Metro police ‘rock n roll’ crime awareness at retirement home
Captain Peter Keogh and his Metro Police team serenaded the residents at Edenroc Retirement Home with a special trip down memory lane after his crime awareness talk on Tuesday.
CRIME awareness talks can be a sobering reality check for many a senior citizen, but the charming antics of Metro Police’s Captain Peter Keogh brought smiles to the faces of elderly at Eden Roc on Tuesday morning.
Captain Keogh and fellow officers visited the home to present a safety talk, and with his guitar in hand also entertained the elderly with some old-time favourite songs.
Capt Keogh, who has served on the force for 40 years, shared some crime prevention tips affecting senior citizens who might be soft targets to criminal elements. He encouraged residents who drive to ensure their handbags and other valuable items such as cellphones and wallets were kept out of sight and rather in the boot of the car when driving or leaving the car when parking.
“My pet hate is talking on cellphones while driving. It is so dangerous, more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol. You will be fined R1500,” he warned.
He also urged those present to always wear seatbelts while driving, as he stated insurance won’t pay out in the case of an accident if motorists aren’t wearing a seatbelt. With regard to ATM safety, Captain Keogh said seniors must be wary of criminal elements who might try to distract them. “Put your hand over the keyboard when you insert your pin, and always be aware of your surroundings. If someone tries to distract you, cancel your transaction,” he said.
Keogh encouraged the residents to always be safe in his fun and charming way before he took out his famous guitar and belted out some of the residents’ old favourite sing-a-long songs.
“It takes a lot to wake up the residents of Edenroc but the Metro Police managed to do so very successfully,” resident, John Young said,adding, “The
morning’s security talk and entertainment were very well received and were rated as one of the best held at the retirement home in recent years! The event was much appreciated by the residents who look forward to a return visit next year. Many thanks for making yourselves available and presenting your Community Outreach Programme to us.”
Manager at the Home, Nicki Haywood, said she and the residents really appreciated Captain Keogh and the Metro Police team’s informative and entertaining visit. “It’s been wonderful having them here, to highlight crime in a positive way, there was so much learned and he’s very entertaining. All our residents really benefited from the visit because he breaks down serious issues in a fun and enlightening way,” she added.
