The good and the bad of Yuletide

Holidaymakers and families face a festive season likely to be characterised by joy and sadness.

First the bad news: the police in Bela-Bela have warned shoppers to be extremely vigilant during the holidays with the rate of petty and other criminal activity expected to tick up.

The good news is that economists all-round forecast a reduction in the high price of fuel, informed by ongoing downward pressures on the price of brand crude oil.

According to Bela-Bela SAPS Detectives Commander, Lieuteant-Colonel Abel Phetla, crimes such as car-jamming tended to rise during the festive season.

Car-jamming is a device used by criminals to block a motorist’s central locking system from functioning, with the resultant theft of valuables such as laptops and mobile phones from supposedly
locked vehicles.

“We urge motorists to be vigilant and to get into the habit of double-checking that one’s car is locked before going shopping or banking,” Phetla cautioned.

He also urged motorists to avoid leaving valuables such as handbags on car seats, because these attracted petty thieves who go into the extent of breaking windows to access items.

The price of fuel has been on an upward trajectory, forcing the government’s hand to somewhat leave it unchanged last month.

— The BEAT