Midrand Police Station held a Complex Forum Meeting at the Midrand Firestation on 13 November to discuss plans to combat crime in complexes.
The meeting was attended by members of body corporates representing close to 20 complexes and Ward 132 councillor Annette Deppe. The meeting was conducted by Midrand police officers who also brought along a member of crime intelligence, JMPD Inspector Nishal Singh.
Leading the meeting was Captain Thapelo Molepo who explained that the purpose of the meeting was to form an integrated approach to combat crime in complexes adding that the police wants all stakeholders involved as they have a prominent role to play.
“We ask that body corporates identify and provide us with the contacts details of the security companies and details of those companies supervisors. What we are intending to do as the police is that immediately when a house robbery, break-in or theft of motor vehicle occurs, we want the supervisor of the security company to take full responsibility and tell us where the guards were, what they were doing and how many guards were posted on the job.”
Molepo added that police will assist to capacitate and educate the guards so they are aware of what is expected of them before going on duty.
One of the topics discussed was the number of undocumented foreign nationals being employed to babysit and take care of houses. Molepo advised that they should be limited. “There have been cases reported in the media whereby a person employed an undocumented person and then it happens that their cars, child or other belongings go missing and the person cannot be traced.
“When employing a person with proper documentation, it assists the police to investigate when something wrong happens.”
Cedric Nemakonde, a member of crime intelligence, added that there should be strict measures with regards to vetting tenants, because often when they catch drug dealers, they find that some of them are foreign nationals living in complexes without any documents. “When you ask how they managed to stay in a complex without documentation it is shocking because no thorough background checks are done.”
At the end of the meeting, body corporates were advised to be very strict with security companies so the complexes are properly protected.
They were also advised that if there is no camera to record the registration numbers of vehicles entering the complex, the guards must write down the details and ensure that it corresponds with the license disc.
Midrand Police Station also urged that all complexes should report incidents of crime that occur monthly to the police station so it can be investigated. Body corporates and security companies should email midrand.communication@saps.gov.za so follow-ups can be done, as very few cases get reported.
Members of body corporates were also urged to come to the next meeting on 4 December.
Details: For more info, email communication@saps.gov.za
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/228175/cpf-focuses-on-crime-fighting/
