While the festive season is a joyous one, shoppers and holidaymakers tend to forget about crime.
Before the festive season hits, the Brixton Police Station issued their top tips to keep in mind while shopping and going on holiday this festive season.
Safety tips to keep in mind while shopping:
- Keep your handbag closed
- Never allow strangers to carry your bags
- Never allow strangers to help you at the ATM
- Never leave your child unattended in a shopping trolley
- Always accompany your child to the bathroom
- Hold your child by the hand
- Teach your child not to talk to strangers or to go with them
- Never leave a child in a locked car alone.
Safety tips to keep in mind before going on holiday:
- Never leave the outside light of your house on the entire day and night
- Stop all newspaper deliveries and arrange with someone who will clear your post box while you’re away
- Inform your neighbours that you are going away so that they can keep an eye on your property
- Make sure that all windows and doors are properly locked away before leaving
- Don’t leave any gardening tools outside in the yard as they can be used in burglaries.
According to the 2016/2017 crime stats which were recently released, crime regarding properties has gone down in four of the five Northcliff Melville Times areas.
Crime stats per station:
Brixton Police Station
- Robbery at residential premises – up by 4.8 per cent
- Burglary at residential premises – up by 10.1 per cent
Fairland Police Station
- Robbery at residential premises – down by 45.8 per cent
- Burglary at residential premises – down by 14.3 per cent
Parkview Police Station
- Robbery at residential premises – down by 2.7 per cent
- Burglary at residential premises – down by 2.1 per cent
Sophiatown Police Station
- Robbery at residential premises – up by 6.0 per cent
- Burglary at residential premises – down by 5.6 per cent
In her statement about staying safe this festive season, spokesperson for the Brixton Police Station, Jeanette Backhoff, urged residents to take note of the station’s tips to avoid being targeted over the holiday season.
ALSO READ: Home safety tips for the festive season
