Crime increases at level 3
"Alertness is extremely valuable in the fight against crime."
Now that community members and neighbourhood watches can continue with patrols, AfriForum’s East-Moot neighbourhood watch highlighted a few crimes they saw an increase in.
“With the relief of lockdown, we are sure to see an increase in crime,” said Andries Opperman, security chair of the East Moot branch.
“We also expect with the increased economic pressure that the restriction will cause more crime.”
He said, for example, during the restriction two liquor stores were broken into in the area they cover.
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“Residents need to be mindful of their surroundings,” he said.
Last week, a resident who went for a walk in Cunningham Avenue came across a sponge with nails in for the possible purpose of spiking a vehicle’s tires.
“Alertness is extremely valuable in the fight against crime.”
Opperman said residents can also take the following steps to make themselves crime-resistant:
– Get good lighting in and around the border of your yard.
– Do not leave any ladders, garden tables or other garden utensils that can be used to access your home.
– Often when the neighbourhood watch is on patrol early in the evening, they see residents watching TV with open curtains and lights on. Not only do you advertise attractive products, but you also have no awareness of your surroundings. While you are blinded by the light of the TV, burglars can watch you easily. Close your curtains.
– Prune the bushes and shrubs around your yard so there is no hiding places.
– Invest in dogs and give them the necessary attention and care. A big dog that can bite and a small dog that can bark when there is danger is a good combination.
– Get cameras so you can watch your yard at night without having to go out yourself. The price of cameras has gone down a lot. Check the cameras regularly to make sure they work.
– Do not establish any habits. Make a point of driving different routes.
“Prof Rudolph Zinn, a criminologist at Unisa, made a comprehensive study of home burglaries. He and his team interviewed thousands of criminals,” Opperman explained.
“Their study shows that eight out of every 10 house burglaries are committed with the help of information obtained from domestic or garden workers.”
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He does not say that all home or garden workers are criminals. Not at all. But they are often detained and threatened. ”
He said another of Zinn’s conclusions was that the presence of a neighbourhood watch counts as much as 69% of the decision to break into a certain neighbourhood or not.
“So please join the AfriForum neighbourhood watches or community policing forums,” he said.
“We also encourage all residents to report crime to the police at all times. It is imperative that police crime statistics are a true reflection of reality.”
The more security, neighbourhood watches and police work successfully with each other, the more crime will decrease,” he concluded.
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