LETTER: Don’t be a crime statistic in the winter months

Madam – The days are getting shorter and the nights longer as winter arrives in town.

This also gives criminals more of an opportunity to take advantage of those that are not as cautious as they should be. You can see it happening across the country, not just in the smaller towns, where syndicates of criminals target the vulnerable.

ALSO READ: Letter to the editor: Why don’t Newcastillians support local business?

In South Africa, it might be near impossible to avoid becoming a statistic, but there is plenty of things people can do to protect themselves especially in public.

For instance, just walking through the CBD you can see how many people leave valuables out in plain sight in their cars. Also, many people still drive around with their windows open and it’s just not safe anymore because thieves are targeting those who are not aware of their surroundings.

Women must also be more proactive in this day and age. I make sure my wife carries around a pepper spray for protection and also does not wear any valuable jewellery when going into town. Why make yourself a target?

Make sure also that you do not let yourself get distracted by being on your cellphone. I personally have witnessed where people are talking on the phone and a criminal walked past and just pulled the phone from their hand and ran away. When you are distracted it is easy to make mistakes without thinking about it.

I want to also give my thanks to the many men and women who form part of our police service, local crime fighting groups and neighbourhood watches, who put their lives on the line every day to protect the innocent from becoming targets and statistics.

It is not easy to take a hard stand against the waves of crime that seem to come every few months, but at least the people of Newcastle know they have someone to turn to when they need urgent help.

READ ALSO: LETTER: True friends are difficult to find in this day and age

Lastly I want to encourage more people to get involved with these types of efforts and work towards keeping our streets safe from those who want to take advantage. Working together, we can find solutions to overcome the danger we as South Africans are forced to face every day.

Sy

Also remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.