East police urge parents to be cautious at schools
“As many as 10 criminal activities at schools have already been reported despite the academic year being only in its first week.”
The Brooklyn police have warned parents to be vigilant when dropping off and picking up their children at school.
“As many as 10 crimes at schools had already been reported despite the academic year being only in its first week,” spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach told Rekord.
The tuck shop at a primary school in Bailey’s Muckleneuk was broken into and stock and a sound system stolen.
“Schools in Bailey’s Muckleneuk and Menlo Park were targeted for thefts out of motor vehicle,” she said.
Four cases were reported in which handbags and laptops were stolen from vehicles at different schools and nursery schools.
Five vehicles were also reported stolen from public parking areas in front of secondary and nursery schools in Menlo Park and Brooklyn.
“There is a large number of vehicle-related crimes because parents are often in a hurry to drop children off at schools in the morning and when they pick them up again in the afternoon,” said Weilbach.
“In the pandemonium parents are often negligent and leave valuables in full sight inside their vehicles.”
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Laptops, handbags, cell phones and sport bags were the most common items stolen.
The police asked schools to assist them by employing more security especially during after-hour and weekend sport and other events.
Where possible, parents are advised to park inside school premises.
“Access control must be implemented at gates to safeguard the school’s and visitors’ property,” said Weilbach.
Weilbach reminded schools that they were required by law to register all events – and especially sports events – with their local police station. This would enable the police to plan and mobilise resources accordingly to prevent crime.
“Some schools also have problems such as bullying and theft,” she said.
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“Parents must teach their children to resolve their problems without fighting.
Explain that fighting could lead to them getting hurt, hurting someone else or earning a reputation as a bully.
Talk to them about other ways they can work out a problem, such as talking it out, walking away, sticking with friends, or telling a trusted adult.”
All police stations had a social crime prevention officer who worked on safer school programmes and could talk to learners and arrange other awareness project for schools.
Schools in the Brooklyn area can contact Captain Patricia Mushwane on 012-366-1843 or email her on [email protected] for further assistance.
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