Help us in fight against crime, Hercules station commander asks residents
"Hercules is a complicated area with its own dynamics in terms of policing."
“Please help us fight crime,” Hercules police station commander Colonel Christine Peta Tsoaedi has called on local residents.
“I want a crime-free Hercules,” she told Rekord.
“And the only way we can do that is by working with the community because we simply cannot fight crime on our own.”
Before she was appointed as commander at the station in May last year, she was acting in the same position at Tarlton police station in Krugersdorp.
Tsoaedi said Hercules is a “complicated” area with its own dynamics in terms of policing.
“Daily, we deal with crime in the industrial area, plots and farms, the CBD, suburbs and informal settlements with limited resources in terms of officers at the station.”
Common crimes in the area include assault, assault with the intent to inflict or cause grievous bodily harm, street as well as house robberies, hijackings and business robberies.
“Robbers often target the industrial areas and spaza shops in the informal settlements.
“Hercules has a crime prevention team in which we have six members to deal with serious crimes in the areas.
“The CPF also regularly helps us with patrolling in the area and visible policing.”
Tsoaedi said the Covid-19 pandemic posed unique challenges.
“I wanted to go out to the community to introduce myself, but it was impossible due to restrictions.”
She said the station wanted to invite the community to help them fight crime as it is a huge problem in the area.
“We are here to help the community in whichever way we can to regain their trust.”
Tsoaedi cautioned residents to avoid:
– Purchasing advertised goods via social media.
– Making electronic payments or deposits on advertised products.
– Being helped by strangers at ATMs as “card swapping and cloning is a reality”.
– Using cellphones in public at night and at Wi-Fi hotspots.
– Driving alone at night.
– Giving rides to hitchhikers.
– Jogging alone.
– Walking home alone from taverns and night clubs.
She said unfortunately there were criminals pretending to be police officials so that they rob motorists and pedestrians at night.
Hire- and tow trucks must also avoid evening call-outs.
“Businesses must always be security conscious,” she said, also calling on residents to report any domestic violence and abuse.
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