Cops warn over spike in vehicle-related crimes
The warning was issued over an increase in malicious damage to and theft out of motor vehicles.
Motorists have been warned against a recent spike in motor vehicle-related crimes in the Pretoria North policing precinct.
“We want members of the community to always ensure they park their vehicles where they are visible and manually check that their vehicles are locked, instead of just using the immobiliser,” Pretoria North police spokesperson Sergeant Tsakani Miyen said.
This as police recently recorded a spike in incidents of malicious damage to property and robbers attempted to break into vehicles and theft out of motor vehicles.
Miyen said that most vehicles that had been maliciously damaged were those they intended to steal while those stolen out of, were those with an immobiliser as they could be jammed.
“We advise motorists to rather leave their valuables at home instead of driving around with them because it’s easy for robbers to gain access to the boot if they have jammed the vehicle.”
She said that the vehicles targeted for malicious damage to the property included models such as the Toyota Tazz, Yaris and Nissan 1400.
“These vehicles generally require keys to gain entry,” Miyen said.
Other safety pointers she offered motorists included ensuring they parked in well-lit areas when it was late and avoid parking in secluded areas.
Last month, Tshwane district police commissioner Major-General Hilda Mohajane announced that they would, in future, start profiling car guards at shopping centres “to check whether they are really supposed to be there”.
This follows an increase in the number of vehicle-related crimes in the area.
The measure, to profile security guards, was expected to be implemented across Tshwane.
“In Pretoria North, we had a lot of cases in which people’s vehicles are broken into while they are busy shopping and their property is stolen,” Mohajane said.
During her announcement about the profiling of security guards at an O Kae Molao operation in the area, she questioned why it was that crime was still taking place while car guards were around.
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