Crime set to spike as year ends

Crime has reportedly decreased in the CBD, and some businesses attribute this to the introduction of the ‘Safe CBD Project,’ however, crime is still a problem in many parts of Newcastle.

In the past week, two incidents came to the fore.

In the first incident, an industrial area worker was stabbed.

Allegedly, the worker visited a nearby convenience store to buy cigarettes. On his return he noticed two men who were tailing him.

To be on the safe side and acting on intuition, he armed himself with a rock in anticipation of a possible attack.

When the two men did indeed attack him, the victim managed to fight off his attackers before alerting nearby security guards. During the altercation the victim was stabbed in the hand.

In another incident at a mall, a businessman’s money he had withdrawn for paying staff wages, was stolen.

He locked the money in his car as he needed to run some errands, during which time prying eyes led to prying fingers, as thieves broke into his car and stole the cash.

Residents are urged to be vigilant as crime is expected to increase as the year comes to an end.

Never leave money, radios or electronic equipment lying in plain sight in your vehicle. Rather than hiding belongings in your car, it is often best to leave them at home, or carry them safely on your person.

It is best to travel in groups when walking through deserted areas. Muggers prefer people walking alone or in pairs, and by travelling in a group, you may just save yourself, or your possessions.