HEIDELBERG – The station commander of the Heidelberg SAPS, Colonel Phiwe Ndwandwe, recently met with members of the media to highlight and discuss crime trends in the Heidelberg area.
“Online shopping and gambling are becoming the norm,” said Ndwandwe. “Unfortunately, it is a haven for criminals to exploit people and con them out of their hard-earned money.
“More people use online platforms to scout for bargains, but in the long run, they lose out more than they bargained for. Currently, the most common scams are buying cars and big items online.”
Ndwandwe says the public should always research the online vendor first to ensure they are legit and not a fly-by-night operation.
Also pointed out were other concerns regarding criminal activities in Heidelberg. Bergsig has seen a spike in burglaries and the theft of tyres. Some other issues are infrastructure damage, the theft of flower pots and damage to windows and doors.
“Residents need to look at safety measures to ensure their belongings are as safe as possible,” said Ndwandwe.
Another issue of concern is the recent spike in car thefts. These often occur at schools, eating establishments and shopping centres.
Ndwandwe also shared various success stories and pointed out the recent arrest of a member of a hijacking syndicate in Heidelberg. Operation Shanella is deemed a success because the SAPS makes various arrests with each operation they do.
“The community needs to be more tolerant when stopped by SAPS members conducting their duties,” urged Ndwandwe.
“The public needs to understand that the SAPS are there to do their work and curb and stop criminal activities.
“If that entails us doing stop-and-go checks from time to time, the public needs to allow SAPS members to do what they are employed to do,” concluded Ndwandwe.
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