Ballito’s high tech cameras winning fight against crime

Traffic came to a standstill on Ballito Drive (P445) between the Ballito Junction and Lifestyle shopping centre on Friday as officers stormed a stolen car and arrested four alleged hijackers.

Private security teams together with Umhlali SAPS and CPF, had tracked down the Toyota Hilux that had been stolen outside Virgin Active Ballito earlier that morning.

This swift move to counter crime has highlighted the value of the automated number plate recognition system.

While the technology did not come cheap for the community funded initiative, installing the electronic security system at strategic points around Ballito and Salt Rock has significantly helped in the fight against crime.

Since implementing the ANPR system in November 2018, the cameras have already helped crack more than 35 cases and led to the arrests of wanted criminals and recoveries of hijacked vehicles.

The cameras are linked to a national database of suspicious or wanted vehicles.

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Working with state-of-the-art technology these mobile camera systems are able to read passing number plates and reference them within seconds against the SAPS and SNIPR databases.

It searches the database records and immediately red flags whether the vehicle is wanted or suspicious.

Local security companies can investigate suspicious flagged vehicles and when necessary, police officers will be able to intercept and stop a vehicle, check it for evidence and where necessary, make arrests.

Ballito and Salt Rock Neighbourhood Watch have praised the system, saying it has been an extra tool for security companies and the authorities in the fight against crime.

According to Ballito Neighbourhood Watch (BNW) the camera system can immediately determine the particulars linked to a number plate, including the registered owner, because it is connected to the official registration number system.

Statistics provided by BNW revealed that the cameras positioned around Ballito read on average 40 000 number plates daily while Salt Rock has an average of 15 000 readings per day.

BNW committee member Gary Frances said the cameras have assisted authorities in solving at least one case a month since they were installed.

“The system is effective in the fight against crime and the successes speak for themselves,” Frances said.

Other examples of success stories include the arrest of three men linked to a local farm attack and the recovery of five illegal firearms in Stanger, linked to a spate of armed robberies in Tinley Manor and Lagoon Drive.

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