An increase in break-ins contributed to a spike in recorded crime in the city.
This necessitated a meeting whereby the police invited several role players to come onboard and discuss how a spanner can be put into the wheels of criminal activities.
“The community are requested to open cases when their houses or business are been broken into, and not only when they are insured,” Capt Eddie Hall, police spokesperson said.
Last year 1 450 house break-ins were reported. This averaged 51 break-ins a month. This year is no better as the average is still maintained monthly.
Even the business sector is feeling the brunt although the number has decreased. Last year 611 business break-ins were reported. This is an average of 50 break-ins a month. This year 213 business break-ins were reported averaging 26 cases a month.
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Capt Hall said residential break-ins usually occur during the day when houses are unattended, while most business break-ins occur during the night.
The police are not sitting idle and opening one docket after the other. They took hands with security companies and the plan is to focus proactively to prevent break-ins.
“We are proud to work alongside CSC Tactical, Mokgotho Security, Vital security, ADT, Omega, Exploration and also Secure Access. Statistics have shown forming partnerships with the community break-ins will decrease,” Capt Hall said.
The first partnership meeting took place on August 23 and during the meeting it was said that business owners should appoint security guards at their shops to prevent business robberies and shoplifting.
Capt Eddie Hall.
Business- and homeowners are requested to install beams as an early detection method to warn of criminal activities outside their premises, which will enable them to activate their alarms before criminals could enter the premises.
Business owners are requested to attend business break-ins at their property as soon as possible after a breaking occurred, as it will assist SAPS and the security company to determine what items were stolen from the business.
The meeting ended with a strategic planning which will stop crime in eMalahleni with a strong bilateral partnership.
