The monthly meeting of the community policing forum (CPF) last week highlighted many issues that needed to be addressed and revealed various implemented measures that were bearing fruit.
Capt Calvin Pule of the White River Police Station represented the station commander and told members that dog poisoning was still a problem. Read more about it here and here.
They have deduced that housebreaking and theft of expensive vehicles were the intended targets and had tried to focus their patrols on the affected areas.
In response, CPF chairman Mr Ockie Brits requested that police also conduct stop-and-search operations on pedestrians during their patrols to check for poison or affected meat.
He also urged community members not to go outside to investigate any suspicious activity, as this could provoke an attack. They were advised to contact the CPF, security company or police.
They were also urged to regularly check their property for any suspicious substances and to keep an eye out for any strange behaviour by their animals.
Pule also reported on a few serious crimes that took place last month, including a false case of armed robbery that was opened. Read more about it here.
Msholozi is still on the watch list as incidents of rape and murder have also recently occurred. Pule noted that in the case of the latter, it seemed like immigrants were fighting among themselves.
Communication officer W/O Gugulethu Phiri, stated that they would continue efforts to curb crime in Msholozi by visiting the area, engaging with the community and urging them to report criminal activity.
Businesses in Rocky Drift were also reportedly being targeted over weekends as there were few people around to foil criminals’ plans.
Criminals employing remote jamming are still very active, especially at centres like White River Square. Gate remote controls are used to block signals to vehicle alarms, which cause doors not to lock electronically.
Motorists and passengers should always lock their doors manually or check that they have been locked.
Pule told the CPF members that the police were planning to brief the car guards at White River Square on their duties. “They should be looking out for trouble and not directing traffic.”
Tourism-safety monitors have also been deployed to crime hot spots around town to provide a similar function.
Foot patrols around the CBD will also be conducted to increase police visibility and hopefully deter criminals.
During the feedback from subforums around the different parts of town, several warnings were also issued.
In Haasbroek, motorists were cautioned that criminals were placing rocks or debris in the road to rob road users when they stop or slow down.
There was, however, good news from Heidel Valley. Cases of crop theft, which had been a huge problem for farmers, had drastically decreased. This could be contributed to increased vigilance and visibility of local CPF members.
Kingsview’s representative spoke about the importance of water conservation and warned that experts didn’t expect much rain next season. A few farmers reported that water cuts had already been implemented among them. Read the warning here.
At Spioenkop, crime had reportedly dropped and the suspicious vehicles which had residents concerned were gone. The area’s representative thanked traffic authorities for their increased visibility and assistance to solve the aforementioned problems.
To conclude the meeting, all members and structures were urged not to relax because of the low crime rate, but to use this time to prepare for the increase in crimes expected in the next few months leading up to Christmas.
