The Randfontein Community Policing Forum (CPF) held another crime awareness meeting at the Randfontein Rugby Club on 8 October.
This was to review the crimes occurring in Randfontein particularly in sector 4 and revise strategies in curbing them.
According to the Public Relations Officer for the CPF executive committee Warren Anderson, they received feedback from the police in terms of crimes in sector four which consists of Greenhills, Culemborg Park, Helikon Park, Eike Park, Randpoort, Randgate and Homelake.
Statistics indicate that crimes such as car theft, theft out of vehicles, contact robberies and theft are on a rise and continue to cause headaches to residents of the sector.
In the previous month alone, 26 cases of house robbery occurred in Greenhills and authorities say that with community involvement, these figures will likely reach a low.
“We conducted patrols every night in the previous month and we were shocked to discover that 75 houses were found to have their gates, garages and doors wide open.
“We had to stop at each one to ask the home owners to lock up in order to ensure their safety,” says Anderson
He adds that these figures are alarming and it goes to show that criminals are not backing down,
“In line with this, we urge people to constantly keep safe by locking their doors and their gates at all times.
“People need to bare in mind that criminals are no longer afraid of the dogs as they simply poison them.
“We advise that people install burglar bars and security alarms among other safety features to ensure that they make it as difficult as possible for intruders to invade their homes,” says Anderson.
In line with protecting themselves, residents are advised to also review the Firearms Act to understand when and how they can use their firearms in a case of emergency.
“People need to understand that by owning a weapon, it does not mean that you have the right to open fire.
“A weapon may only be discharged when your life is in danger,” says Anderson.
