‘Be extra careful this season’ – SAPS

With the festive season fast approaching, the community is urged to be extra alert of their surroundings.

The Edenvale SAPS’ acting station commander, Lieutenant Colonel Robbie Roberts, said the community needs to be aware to eliminate possible opportunities for criminals.

“People need to stay alert before, during and after the festive season. Crime is a continuous battle, therefore residents need to report suspicious vehicles and people immediately,” said Lt Col Roberts.

He said the number of business robberies and business break-ins is still of concern, as well as hijacking and house break-ins.

He provided some guidelines and tips to ensure safety and security this festive season.

• Business robberies and break-ins

Business owners need to ensure their alarm systems are in full working condition.

Businesses should make use of access control – business robbers want to get in and get out. The use of access control creates a delay in cases of robberies.

Business owners need to be alert to and aware of movement around the premises of the business, as well as people roaming around.

Ensure security and alarms are checked continuously.

• When leaving the mall or shopping centres, individuals should be aware of the following:

If you are withdrawing large sums of money or purchasing expensive items such as jewelry, shoppers need to ensure they are aware of anyone displaying suspicious behavior and make sure they are not being followed.

Instead of withdrawing a large amount of money, make use of transfers or other technological ways to deal with your money.

If you have to carry a large sum of money, do not go alone – rather have increased security.

When parking at the malls or shopping centres, do not lock your vehicle from a distance. If you lock your car make sure you check the doors as this eliminates the possibility of your vehicle’s remote being jammed.

Do not leave valuable items exposed on the seats or on your person.

Leave valuables unseen and not exposed in the vehicle.

• To prevent house break-ins, driveway robberies, hijacking and house robberies residents should be aware of the following:

Ensure the outside perimeter security is in a good condition.

Alarms systems are in working condition.

When leaving your home or approaching your home, be alert for suspicious vehicles following you, or people wondering around.

Contact the SAPS if anything looks suspicious to avoid becoming a victim of crime.

• Theft of motor vehicles and theft out of motor vehicles

Ensure valuables are removed from the vehicle in order to eliminate an opportunity for crime.

Do not park vehicles in a quiet street.

Where possible, park vehicles in a secure premises.

Make use of gear or steering locks. Although these are seen as old methods, it becomes a tactic to delay suspects and possibly prevent the vehicle from being stolen.

• Smash-and-grab

These may occur at any traffic light and not just at offramps.

Motorists create an opportunity to become victims of this crime when they are on their cellular phone while stopped.

Ensure that handbags and other valuables are not visible in the car when driving.

Hide all valuable property and do not leave such items exposed on the vehicle’s seats.

Lt Col Roberts said the community needs to ensure they know all the sector vehicle numbers and keep panic buttons or emergency numbers at hand.

“Individuals need to report suspicious vehicles and people as soon as they are sighted,” he said.

The Edenvale sector vehicle numbers are:

• Sector 1 – 071 675 6840 and 071 675 6841.
• Sector 2 – 071 675 6842 and 071 675 6843.
• Sector 3 – 071 675 6844 or 071 675 6845.