Nelspruit police urge safety and vigilance ahead of the festive season

With the advent of the festive season, the Nelspruit SAPS has urged residents to be vigilant as this period usually sees a spike in crime.

The Nelspruit police spokesperson, Capt Zandile Gqawa, warned that robberies, fraud and Internet fraud are often prevalent in December and issued safety tips for members of the public.

“Criminals take advantage of this period to rob victims of their hard-earned money and their property. The police have observed a trend where they use the Internet to defraud unsuspecting residents,” she said.

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Gqawa explained that the police would like the community to exercise caution to avoid falling victim to crime ahead of the festive season.

She gave the following tips:

• Do not carry a lot of cash when going to the shops or to places of entertainment. • Avoid the display of cash in  public.

• Never ask for help from strangers, especially at ATMs.

• Verify information before buying goods that are advertised on the Internet.

• Do not leave valuables in the car, including laptops, cell phones, cameras or even clothes in car seats or anywhere that is easily accessible to criminals.

• Always ensure that all vehicle doors and windows are locked before moving away from the car.

• If possible, request that neighbours keep an eye on your property if you plan to go on holiday.

• Beef up home security by fitting doors with security gates and installing burglar bars on windows.

Gqawa urged members of the public to report any criminal activity by contacting the Nelspruit SAPS on 013-759-1008 or the toll-free number on 08600-10111.

“Alternatively, you can give a tip-off on the MySAPSApp that can be downloaded to any smartphone.

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All information will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and callers may opt to remain anonymous,” she concluded.