Fight against crime shows results
Blue Security has noted a drop in crimes reported, as the community, security companies and police work together.
STOLEN goods were recovered and suspects arrested for various incidents on the Berea this past week.
Blue Security managing director Henk van Bemmelen said in one case a quick thinking reaction officer chased down a man who had walked into a business premises in Randles Road, grabbed a customer’s wallet and fled.
“Our officer gave chase, arrested the suspect and handed him over to the Sydenham SAPSwho attended the scene,” he said.
In a separate incident in Ramsay Road, a reaction officer responded to an alarm at a business premises and recovered stolen goods.
“When the housebreaker spotted our reaction officer on the scene, he fled leaving behind the garden equipment that he had attempted to steal,” he said.
Van Bemmelen said Blue Security had also attended the scene of a crime at a block of flats in King Dinuzulu (Berea) Road where a security manager had apprehended two thieves for stealing washing off the line. The two men were handed over to Berea SAPS.
“We have noticed a drop in the number of crime incidents reported to Blue Security on the Berea over the past week and we believe this could partly be a result of the growing working relationship between the community, the police and security companies following several serious and violent crimes over the past few months,” he said.
He said residents had also been making a concerted effort through local crime fighting forums to deal with the problem of vagrants in the area.
However, he added the company’s crime statistics showed crime tended to wax and wane between suburbs and streets as residents became more vigilant in certain areas.
Van Bemmelen said that by residents remaining vigilant and reporting the so-called “lesser crimes” such as trespassing, vandalism and theft and following through by pressing charges against perpetrators, a strong message would be sent to criminals that they are not wanted in the area.
“We can make a difference in the fight against crime and make it more difficult for criminals to thrive by raising the likelihood of them being arrested and brought to book,” he said.
