Crime low in the Moot
Medical and security experts have warned that though crime was at an all time low in the area, residents should remain vigilant.
There has been a dramatic drop in crime and medical emergency calls in the Moot since the national lockdown started, according to experts.
But medical and security experts have warned that though crime was at an all time low in the area, residents should remain vigilant.
According to Reinhard Raschke of MCS Security even though residents were at home, criminals were still opportunistic.
“Last Tuesday, there was a break-in at a home in 21st Avenue while everyone was asleep,” he said.
“Fortunately, nothing was stolen and the criminals fled when the alarm went off but the point stands that they were able to get into the house.
“Residents should please remain vigilant even though they are at home.”
Ancelize van der Kooi of Kilnerpark Security agreed that crime was at the lowest since the start of the lockdown.
READ MORE: Moot locals urged to be crime-conscious during lockdown
“Although we have seen an increase in house break-ins and business robberies this past week,” she said.
She said another concern was that people were not adhering to the rules of the lockdown.
“Police and security companies have their hands full with this daily,” she said.
She urged residents to comply with the regulations and to report any unauthorised person on the street.
“It is a lockdown and no one is allowed to move around,” she said.
Pretoria Moot police spokesperson Captain Anton Breedt said a drop in crime has been reported.
He said, however, that complaints such as house break-ins and theft were still made daily.
Life Med ambulance spokesperson Renata Erasmus said since the first few confirmed cases of Covid-19 in South Africa, they started seeing a slight decrease in motor vehicle accidents in the area.
READ MORE: Watch out for these crimes – Pta Moot police
“With more confirmed cases in our region, a massive decline in motor vehicle accidents was noted and our call stats showed an 80% decrease in motor vehicle accidents,” she said.
“It seems that people were more cautious when driving, with the idea of being admitted to the hospital with the uncertainty if there will be Covid-19 patients.”
She said when speaking to accident patients, they seemed agitated on their way to hospital with the fear of being exposed to the virus, even though hospitals had safety measures in place.
BestCare ambulances services spokesperson Xander Loubser concurred.
“Ambulance service emergency calls have dropped drastically during the lockdown,” he said.
“Motor vehicle accidents and assault reports have all dropped. Some days we had zero cases.”
Medical call-in rates have, however, picked up.
READ MORE: National lockdown extended by two weeks
“People panic they might have the coronavirus when they are sick with flu-like symptoms.”
Loubser said a specific medical response was needed in the fight against the spread of Covid-19, which is why his service invested in a specialised Covid-19 ambulance unit.
“With time on our hands, we decided to help disinfect people at shopping centres and screen their temperatures before they go in.”
At national level, police minister Bheki Cele has reported a similar drop in serious and violent crimes.
Cele believed the drop was due to the prohibition on the sale and movement of liquor during the lockdown.
Comparing crime in the first week of the lockdown to the same period in 2019, Cele said murder cases had dropped from 326 to 94, rape from 699 to 101.
Cases of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm dropped from 2 673 to 456, car hijacking, business robberies dropped from 8 853 to 2 098.
READ MORE: Tips for rebuilding yourself and your business after the lockdown
Unfortunately, the number of complaints of gender-based violence remained high and was “concerning”, according to the police minister.
He said police received over 2 300 complaints from 27 to 31 March, and 148 suspects were charged.
Cele urged SAPS management to boost the family violence, child protection and sexual offences units at police stations to ensure readiness to respond to the complaints.
Cele said there was also a drop in the number of complaints against the police during the lockdown.
“The decrease in the number of complaints, which were high over the first days of the lockdown, reflects stabilisation,” Cele said.
“It confirms that people are now beginning to understand the lockdown and are complying with the regulations.”
He added that police, the SANDF, the metro police and other law enforcement agencies would remain on a high alert to ensure compliance with lockdown regulations.
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