One of the reasons the Cape Town community has been rocked by the murder of Franziska Blöchliger is that, at some point or other, most of us have probably walked or jogged that same route she took Monday.

As a result of this horrific attack Kirstenhof Crime Watch has announced plans to increase safety in the area. Whilst the area has seen a few incidents of cars being broken into, the violent murder of Franziska has seen chairperson Sean Powell speak out. Below from TimesLive:

“There have been reports of thefts, robbery and muggings in the past. But it’s certainly not on the scale that I’m used to in Johannesburg,” Powell said.

“The area is quite crime-free and peaceful, but there appears to be an increase in terms of alleged incidents in recent times.”

Powell said the area was not covered in thick bushes that make it easy for criminals to hide. The area is mostly covered in pine trees and there are a few areas of fynbos.

He said that the area was very popular with the community and there were lots of people in the forest between sunrise and sunset.

“At night the forest is not lit so people tend to stay clear.”

Until any plans for increased security have been put in place Powell advised that visitors exercise caution in the area.

[source:timeslive]