Amanzimtoti police encourage residents to report property-related crimes
When a crime is reported, fingerprints are lifted and stored on a database which aids the police to link the suspect to other crimes when they are arrested.
AMANZIMTOTI residents are encouraged to report property-related crimes in order for fingerprints to be obtained.
Amanzimtoti Police Station’s communications officer, Captain Charlene van der Spuy, said it has come to their attention that community members do not report property-related crimes when they have not suffered any loss or damage to property.
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“As a result, opportunistic perpetrators cannot be persecuted. There has been a noticeable increase in property-related crimes. The community at large are therefore encouraged to report all property-related crime to the police in order for hotspots to be correctly identified and members deployed accordingly,” she said.
Van der Spuy provides the following information about property-related crimes:
- Fingerprints can only be booked via SAPS when a case is reported and a case number is obtained.
- House-breaking and theft in residential areas, whether in the house, garage or garden shed, need to be reported.
- Housebreaking and theft in business areas, which include businesses run from home, schools, churches, daycare facilities and so forth.
- House and business break-ins where the perpetrator entered the property but got disturbed and nothing was taken still need to be reported.
- A theft out-of-motor-vehicle needs to be reported – do not repair before fingerprints have been obtained.
- A theft from a motor vehicle (where any accessory/part has been removed from the vehicle) needs to be reported.
- Any part of the property on your premises where entry was gained by forcing open doors, windows and roof tiles removed (including garden sheds) needs to be reported.
- When fingerprints are booked, a reference number is issued, and enquiries can be made using the reference number to Durban Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) in the event of a delay.
- Fingerprints get lifted and stored on the SAPS National Database.
She added that if a suspect is arrested, his/her fingerprints are taken and screened through the database and linked to previous crimes committed, no matter which area/town.
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