With the high number of burglaries, robberies and hijackings taking place each day, one would think that we, the residents of Edenvale and other areas, make our own security a number one priority.
Recently I stopped at McDonalds in the CBD.
Now, there are many people who visit McDonalds daily but one woman caught my eye.
She had ordered a breakfast meal and took a seat at one of the tables. She then proceeded to pull out a wad, and I mean a wad, of R200 notes.
She casually sipped on her coffee while she counted the money.
If I noticed this, who else did?
I have no doubt the woman, who I think was in her early to mid-50’s, would have finished her breakfast, packed up her money and headed to her car.
Once at her car, it would be very easy for two or even one man to overpower her and take her money.
Come on!
Every week, I’m asked to tell the community to be alert and to not make themselves easy targets for criminals.
How many actually listen? How many of you actually take note of those little warnings printed?
Now, I’m not innocent, I also drive with my camera on the floor of the passenger side of my car when I head to a breaking news story. I have also “forgotten” to put my handbag in the boot of my car. And as a result, I have also been a victim of crime.
Did I learn my lesson? Apparently not, because like many of you, I still let a few things slip.
I have become complacent and I have made myself an easy target for criminals.
It must be the “it will not happen to me” mentality, which like me, many of you have adopted.
And, let’s face it; it’s much easier to read about crime than it is to face the reality that we can also be victims.
Driving to work in the mornings, it’s not hard to see why police officers complain about residents’ apathy to crime.
Gates are left open while a mother quickly runs into the house to get something she might have forgotten, leaving her car running in the drive way with her three-year-old strapped into the back seat.
Cars are left parked in the street because it’s too much effort to pull it into the yard while we quickly stop at home.
Did you know it only takes a moment for a seasoned criminal to steal a car?
Did you know that the average hijacking is committed in less than 10 seconds? Think about that for a while.
Burglars can get into your house with almost anything you leave lying in your garden.
Taking our own safety seriously is a conscious decision each of us has to make.
Do not drive with valuables visible in the car, do not leave valuables in a parked car; look around, vary the routes and times you travel.
Simple right? So let’s see how many will take note, look at what we are doing and change something.
Let’s not make it easy for criminals; we work hard for what we own.
@EdenvaleJourno
