Rietgat commuters easy prey, say police
Rietgat police say during winter, criminals take advantage of commuters who leave for work or return home in the dark.
Commuters waiting for the bus or trains are easy prey for opportunistic criminals, Rietgat police said this week.
Spokesperson Captain Stephen Maluleka said numerous crimes had been reported to Rietgat police by people who were robbed while waiting for buses or trains.
He warned residents to be wary and vigilant at bus stops and pick-up and drop-off points against thugs roaming the streets disguising as fellow commuters.
“We urge people to walk in groups if they can and to take necessary precautions when they are going to the bus stop or board taxis since there is a trend of minibus taxis,” said Maluleka.
“This is a period used by criminals to kidnap, rape and mug unsuspecting commuters and residents alike.”
Experience had taught the Rietgat police that criminals tended to take advantage of commuters during winter when they left their homes in the dark of the morning or returned home in the dark.
The Tshwane United Commuters Forum recently also expressed its concern about the safety of train commuters in the area.
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“On a normal day, multiple users of the station are robbed or attacked but they sadly never report the crimes,” the forum said in a statement.
Maluleka said: “As the police, we would like to send a strong and unequivocal warning to commuters in our township to ensure they are always alert and vigilant of thugs roaming the streets as [if they are] fellow commuters.”
Maluleka urged the commuters, even minibus taxis commuters, to take precautions.
He said reports had surfaced about taxis being used in the kidnapping, rape and mugging of unsuspecting commuters.
The forum said commuters travelling before dawn or after dark were at risk of opportunistic crime.
The forum called on the Tshwane metro to coordinate safety measures with other concerned parties to protect residents.
“If the mayor [Solly Msimanga] is indeed serious about ‘igniting excellence,’ he would be the front-runner to ensure Tshwane residents making use of the station are safe,” said the forum.
“Let the Batho Pele principle not only be a slogan printed on policy documents but a way of life in delivering service to the residents of Tshwane.”
The police advised commuters who spotted suspicious vehicles to take down the registration number, make and model and colour.
Where possible, these should be reported to the Rietgat police on 012-432-7806 or 08600-10111.
Anonymous tips could be sent via SMS to 32211.
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https://rekordnorth.co.za/106763/tips-against-smash-and-grab-crimes/
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