After a drive to help improve the safety and security of their suburb, the Bloubosrand community finally has licence plate recognition security cameras monitored by Fidelity ADT.
Community development manager for Fidelity ADT Danny Maringa said that criminals and syndicates often use vehicles when they target a community as this allows them to quickly enter the area, commit a crime and get out again.
“This is why it is important for any community wanting to safeguard themselves to take note of the vehicles driving around in the area that do not belong there,” said Maringa.
Lizzy Mabena, the executive chairperson of the Douglasdale CPF and Sector 2 chairperson said, “It was with great anticipation when the LPR cameras at Vloot and Teuton Street finally went up. This after experiencing an issue with ongoing crime in the area.”
She said that as the CPF’s chairperson, she is exposed to various types of criminal activity across the Douglasdale policing precinct and she sees how various communities in the precinct are using a network of LPR cameras and a combination of armed response to guard against crime.
“The Douglasdale CPF supports the community of Bloubosrand in standing up to secure their community using technology-enabled tools. This has seen a significant decrease in criminal activities. Though crime still exists, we are on the way to fighting it first-hand and ensure better, safer communities for all,” said Mabena.
Committee member of Bloubosrand Community Forum Yannick Algrain said, “The cameras are so valuable these days as the majority of crime is not committed by opportunistic criminals walking into a suburb, but rather by sophisticated syndicates that drive in, usually with stolen cars or using false number plates.”
She said the beauty of the cameras is they can then pick vehicles up early and often match them to crimes in other areas.
“They certainly act as a deterrent to criminals and that is what we want – we want the criminal element out of our suburb.”
Ward 114 councillor Matome Mafokwane applauded the community’s efforts in helping to improve the safety and security of their suburb and hopes other suburbs in his ward can follow their example.
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