Mugged on the promenade

A woman was mugged while jogging on the Ballito promenade last week Monday.
While on her regular morning run at around 7am, Bev Jones had two necklaces ripped from her neck by a man she had run past minutes earlier.”I had passed a man who was staring out at the sea. I passed him gain on my way back and he jumped on me and ripped my gold chains off,” she said.
Jones was in shock but relatively unscathed from the incident.
“I just want to make people aware that these things can happen,” she said.
Chairman of the Ballito Neighbourhood watch, Rob Hardstone, also appealed for people to take care on the promenade.
“We are urging people that go to the promenade, especially early in the morning and in the evening, to go in pairs. Single ladies should not run alone at these times and people should try not to wear jewellery while walking on the promenade,” said Hardstone.
During holiday periods the neighbourhood watch has members patrolling the area but they said this was difficult to maintain year round.
“Our main role is to get the community to look out for each other and to report crimes. Looking after all these areas is sadly beyond the scope of our abilities,” said Hardstone.
Hardstone is also concerned with the rise of ATM fraud as a number of incidents of card skimming have occurred in the area.
The Ballito Neighbourhood watch will host Chris du Plessis from ABSA bank’s Fraud division at their meeting next Tuesday, May 20. Du Plessis will be talking on how to avoid becoming a victim of card skimming.
Contact Hardstone on 082 414 1313.