SECUNDA – If you have an old model vehicle, make sure you lock it up at night.
Capt Bettina Zondo, spokesman for the Secunda Police Station, said at a Sector policing meeting on Thursday, 11 April, that the theft of old vehicles is currently rife in Secunda.
According to her, thieves are targeting older model vehicles such as Toyota Tazz, Fiat Uno and old bakkies.
This meeting of Secunda Community Policing Forum (CPF)’s Sectors 2 and 3 was held at Hoërskool Oosterland.
Capt Zondo told the assembly that burglaries are still a big problem in the area.
Something that stood out for Capt Zondo during the CPF’s crime education projects, were residents’ carefree attitude towards crime.
The police and CPF have been going door to door over weekends to hand out pamphlets and make residents more aware of crime.
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“We found that many people were reluctant to inspect why their dogs were barking outside when we were at their gates.
Dog barks should alert the resident that something is happening in the front yard, but many residents just ignored the barking.”
Capt Zondo said they also found bicycles and other valuables left on the front lawn of homes where it can attract criminals.
Mr Alf Claassen, Sector 2 manager, said 120 cameras have been donated and will be mounted in crucial areas around Secunda in the near future as a way to curb crime.
These cameras will be monitored from the Stratcon Risk control room at Lake Umuzi.
Col Harold Mashile, commander of the Secunda Police Station, emphasised the need for the police and the community to take hands in the fight against crime.
He explained the importance of the CPF and the sectors as a recognised part of the police.
Col Mashile said the community will be able to recognise CPF and sector patrols, because their vehicles are clearly marked as CPF and equipped with green lights.
He said if there is a group of people helping to deal with crime, they need to affiliate themselves under the umbrella of the CPF where the rules and laws can be explained.
“You cannot work on your own and create your own laws.”
Col Mashile asked that groups who go out on crime prevention operations, align themselves with the police and to report to the police station beforehand.
Mr Nick Prinsloo, vice-chairman of the Secunda CPF, explained the function and authority of the CPF.
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