Top cop advises how to stay safe this festive season

As the festive season brings joy to the community, it can also harbour dangerous opportunities for criminals.

That is why Randfontein Police Station’s acting station commander Lieutenant Colonel Sifiso Mabizela gave safety tips for this Christmas to prevent common crimes.

“The festive season is a time when loved ones go out to enjoy great times at shopping centres, entertainment areas and also where our youth go to parks since schools are closed. As part of keeping our community safe and to prevent common crimes, the Randfontein SAPS wishes to share the following tips amongst others,” Mabizela explained.

His first safety tips emphasised the importance of keeping yourself and your vehicle safe. He stated residents should be cautious of criminals waiting to open delivery trucks or bakkies at traffic lights and stop signs. To prevent this, always secure the entrance with a padlock.

Be careful of roads blocked by rocks when driving on a dark road as Mabizela mentioned this is a trending method used by hijackers. He cautioned residents to not give lifts to unknown persons during the night or early morning hours.

Report people selling suspicious goods and do not interact with them. Always keep your doors locked when travelling.

When leaving your vehicle parked, be careful of car thieves using signal jammers which blocks the mobiliser from locking the car. He further stated do not tempt thieves by leaving valuable goods exposed inside the vehicle.

When Mabizela spoke about crimes against people, he emphasised that residents should avoid drinking and driving.

“Organise your own transport and when you have had enough to drink, go home. When you arrive at home, avoid unnecessary confrontations,” he said.

He also added persons should not leave their drinks unattended since that might lead to someone spiking the drink. Women and vulnerable groups should avoid walking alone in dark places, open fields and bushes.

“Remember, it’s festive time so criminals are also at work, so be cautious of any criminal activity that might be taking place,” he explained.

Therefore, he mentioned, that residents should be careful of people following them, especially around ATMs. Residents should also avoid sharing personal information like dates and finances and if possible, they should utilise EFT payments.

During the festive season, residents are urged to refrain from carrying huge amounts of cash and to not interact with unverified online transactions.

Mabizela urged residents to ensure someone is available to look after their properties when they travel.

“If something is too good to be true, it possibly is. So be extra careful of competitions or winnings where you are required to pay money to receive money or prizes,” he said.

Lastly, during New Year’s, Mabizela emphasised it is important to keep your pets in a safe environment and, during the time of fireworks, ensure it’s not exposed to shock or trauma.