BAC commends police for their work

Closing off the Business Against Crime (BAC) meetings for the year, BAC chairperson, Fanie van Vuuren expressed his pride in Newcastle.

“As I look back though the year, we stay in a good town. Crime in Newcastle isn’t as bad as surrounding towns and cities. The police are really doing a good job,” said Mr van Vuuren.

Mr van Vuuren further thanked business owners, the SAPS and members of the community for all their support over the year in making the BAC meetings possible.

“For the new year, we would really like the public to report any crime, as there is crime happening in town, it is just not being reported.”

Focusing on criminal activities in town over the past month, Colonel Bonga Zungu from the SAPS explained that there were problematic areas in town.

“Burglaries in Arbor Park are a problem during the hours when people are at work and school.”

Col. Zungu added that robberies taking place in the vacant land behind the Farmers Hall is another issue. “There has been a slight decrease though.”

Theft out of motor vehicles, according to Col. Zungu, remains a problem as people often leave large sums of money in their cars.

During the meeting, it was asked what shop owners and staff should do when handed fraudulent notes.

According to Col. Zungu, the fake money should not be defaced and returned to the customer, but rather be confiscated and handed over to the SAPS.

“Some people might not be aware of the fact they have false notes, but it must be confiscated and the police should be contacted.”

Through reporting fake notes to the police, accusations of shop owners and staff exchanging the real money for counterfeit notes could be avoided.

The meeting was concluded with Mr van Vuuren wishing the community a happy festive season and to report all criminal activity.

The next BAC meeting will be held on 23 January 2014.