The Krugersdorp Sector 4 Community Policing Forum (CPF) would like to warn residents to be extra vigilant as there has been an increase in the theft of Ford Rangers.
In a Facebook post they said, “These vehicles are in high demand at the moment. A syndicate is active on the West Rand. These criminals are trained and they operate very quickly.”
Wynand Horn, Sector 4 CPF chairperson, explained that they have been noticing the increase in those particular thefts since March.
They have always targeted Toyotas but it seems they have shifted their focus to Ford Rangers,” he said and added that residents should be very vigilant as some of these vehicles were stolen at shopping centres.
Their Facebook post also warned that the thieves are armed.
“Don’t leave your vehicle outside a property, and when you go to the malls, do regular checks,” said their post.
The official South African Police Service website has safety-awareness tips you can follow when parking your vehicle. Click here for more tips.
• Avoid parking your motor vehicle where there are no security officers guarding other cars.
• Make sure that all the doors and windows are properly locked after you have parked your car.
• Valuable items like a laptop and camera should be put in the boot of your car.
• Be aware of people coming to you and informing you that you have a flat tyre. The intention can be to steal items that they see inside the car or rob you of your car.
• At night, park in well-lit areas.
• If in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advice.
• Practice the same prevention skills you apply in parking lots or garages at home.
• Do not leave your keys in the ignition.
• Always lock the doors and close the windows before leaving the car.
• Remove detachable radios and the radio’s face before leaving the car.
• Try to fit an alarm and/ or anti-theft device in your car.
• Have your keys in your hand when you approach your car, especially if they are difficult to find in your handbag.
• Park in parking lots with a parking attendant or supervision – someone patrolling is best – otherwise try to park in well-lit or well-populated areas that are not crowded by bushes or buildings where offenders might hide.
