Police have urged Alex residents to continue reporting crime amid the 21-day national lockdown enforced to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The township hasn’t been spared by the scourge with a local person who tested positive being quarantined like more than 1 460 others nationally. Some of the residents were put in isolation after being in contact with the affected person.
Alexandra Police Station spokesperson Sergeant Simphiwe Mbatha said the lockdown doesn’t stop normal reporting of crime which should continue in the interest of the public and property safety. This in a township with concerns about reported violent contact crime including murder, rape, armed robberies and hijackings. “Victims or witnesses of crimes should report at any time,” Mbatha said on day seven of the lockdown and after a victim was robbed of two cell phones worth R5 500 at noon on 24 March by two armed men while parked at a shopping centre.
He added that criminals adjusted their mode of operation to suit prevailing conditions. “Without lots of human movement in the streets, they gravitate to malls and where there are queues of potential victims to pounce on.”
Mbatha added that the robbery, which is under investigation, should also warn residents to stay indoors, except in an emergency or when shopping for essential items. “But return home once you are done in compliance with the lockdown rule.
“Those who loiter around will be easy victims whose screams won’t be heard by those indoors when the criminals pounce on them.”
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