As the festive season approaches, the prevalence of crime is usually on the rise during this period. It is essential for residents to be alert during this time of the year. This according to Douglasdale Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Balan Muthan.
There has been a number of incidents involving retirement villages where residents were targeted by a couple who pretended to be looking for a family member. After they gained entry they stole residents’ valuables without their knowledge.
Valarie Seal, who is a resident at a retirement complex in Olivedale, was involved in an incident earlier in the year where a couple, claiming to be from Nelspruit, were looking for someone in the same retirement village.
“The man asked if he could use my toilet while the young woman said they had a long journey and I offered to make them coffee. After their departure with directions to another retirement village, she discovered that the man had emptied her purse in the bedroom and stole her jewellery,” she said.
A similar incident happened at the Bryanston Retirement Village where the same couple pretending to be lost, robbed an elderly resident in September.
Seal believes that residents need to be more careful about who they trust and let into their homes. “Residents need to be aware of the these kind of incidents at retirement villages and that the couple committing these crimes are still out there,” she said.
Douglasdale Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Balan Muthan confirmed that retirement villages had been targeted lately, and offered some useful tips for residents. WO Muthan said that retirement villages are normally guarded by security guards but elderly residents need to be more observant when going in and out of the residence.
“If residents feel they are being followed they need to drive to a place with surveillance cameras or to their nearest police station. It would also be helpful to remember the registration number of the people following them and follow it up with police,” WO Muthan said.
He also said that residents should especially be more observant during the festive season. The Douglasdale SAPS has launched a Festive Patrol Plan which entails increased police visibility, increased stop-and-searches and road blocks.
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