Sophiatown police are currently seeing a rise in the number of reported cases of hijackings and house robberies in Albertville, Sophiatown and Westdene.
Spokesperson for the station, Captain TJ de Bruyn pleaded with the public to be aware of their surroundings at all times and to report any suspicious activity to the police immediately.
He also provided the following safety tips to help residents reduce the chances of becoming victims:
Hijacking safety tips:
- Make sure all your doors and windows are properly locked before walking away from your parked vehicle
- Double check the car is locked by trying to open the doors after locking it, car jamming is still a reality
- Do not park your vehicle where no security officers are stationed
- Do not engage any unknown people when parking your vehicle in any public
- If in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advice
- Parking lots with a parking attendant or supervision/someone patrolling are best, otherwise try to park in locations that are well lit and/or well populated and not surrounded by bushes or buildings where offenders might hide.
House robbery safety tips:
- Ensure that your burglar gates and doors are locked at all times
- Do not open and leave windows open that do not have burglar bars
- Keep outside lights on during the night
- Do not open doors for strangers and verify all service calls
- Communicate with trustworthy neighbours to keep an eye on your home whenever you are not around
- Report suspicious activities immediately to the police or your security company
- Do not take anyone from the street to assist with tasks in and around your house.
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