CCTV monitoring blankets parts of Doonside
We are aware it might displace crime into immediate neighbourhoods.
A crime prevention initiative using CCTV and cellphone networks to oversee parts of Doonside is gaining ground.
Doonside residents, ET Rapid Response and Skytec have partnered in the initiative, which is reaping rewards and other Toti neighbourhoods are urged to follow suit.
CCTV cameras were situated at the foot bridge, the Worlds View Close intersection and Adelaide Road in early March. They are linked by Skytec Wireless to ET Security’s control room in Toti where they are monitored 24-hours a day and backed by armed response.
Residents also share information on a Whatsapp group about any suspicious behaviour they witness in the neighbourhood. This group is linked to their security provider.
“The system has yielded a few successes already in the form of crime prevention, mainly through ET’s early detection and armed response to suspicious individuals in the neighbourhood,” said a Doonside Crime Watch (DCW) group member, who wished to remain anonymous.
“There was a great sense of success when the DCW group viewed the CCTV footage of two suspicious looking characters who fled the area before they had time to commit crime, seconds before a response vehicle crested the hill along Umfuleni Drive to the Worlds View intersection.”
On Wednesday night, the system had another success when CCTV footage of a suspicious vehicle was shared by the security provider on the group. The footage showed the vehicle fleeing the neighbourhood via the same intersection. The vehicle’s details were disseminated to the Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO) to broaden the search area. Multiple armed vehicles responded and although the vehicle disappeared, they continued to patrol through the night and early morning.
Plans are in the pipeline to install three more cameras at Valley Road, Mopani Road and in the vicinity of Operation Bobbi Bear. “We hope to broaden the CCTV coverage area, as well as repair broken fences and install barriers on paths known to be used by criminals.
We have noticed a decrease in the number of people loitering and the number of transients travelling through the neighbourhood. I’ve seen passers-by taking notice of the cameras, indicating a growing awareness that the neighbourhood is under 24-hour surveillance.
We are proud of the more than 60 households and almost 90 individuals who are actively on surveillance in the area at some time during the day and night. Anyone suspicious entering the area, on foot or in a vehicle, is either seen on the CCTV system or word of their whereabouts and direction of travel is rapidly spread to the group.
There has even been talk of rolling road blocks at key exit points in the event of criminals trying to escape in a vehicle.
If we have to have guards with trained dogs to seek out and apprehend criminals on foot or hiding in bushes, we will. That is the length we are willing to go to drive crime out of our neighbourhood.
We are aware it might displace crime into immediate neighbourhoods, as opportunistic criminals seek easier targets. This is an unfortunate by-product of any success we might achieve and we urge other neighbourhoods who are tired of crime to implement similar initiatives in their area.”
