EDITOR – My wife experienced the same snatch-and-grab of a gold necklace at the door of Home Affairs in Pinetown. A man wearing a red T-shirt came from behind and grabbed the necklace that was valued at R2 600 some years ago. This event was reported to the Pinetown SAPS and a case number was given.
I doubt that there is any hope of getting the necklace back. However, I would like to stress two important messages that come to mind from being a regular visitor to the Westville Community Police Forum public meeting on the third Tuesday of each month. People should wear the absolute minimum of visible jewellery when in public places and every such incident of this nature, even if the perpetrator was unsuccessful, should be reported to the SAPS.
The number of police members at any station is in part dependent upon, in part, the number of crimes and attempted crimes that occur within their precinct. Unreported incidents reduce the quota of both personnel and vehicles allocated to any police station.
I would suggest also that there is parking available above Home Affairs at R10 per vehicle. Using this facility and being extremely diligent, one’s risk is partly mitigated. There are other seemingly safer Home Affairs branches that may be preferable.
Andy Tribe
Westville
