More security reinforcements in Blairgowrie

ADT Security has introduced another patrol vehicle in Blairgowrie, to help fight an alleged “spike in crime” in the area.

A new double-cab bakkie, is the fourth vehicle of its kind to patrol sectors which fall under the Linden Police Station’s jurisdiction.

“We took the decision to step up our proactive model to curb the current spike in crime,” said managing director of ADT Central, Clive Humphrey. “Our crime statistics show a definite spike in incidents of crime between January and March this year, especially in terms of armed robberies, house break-ins and theft, compared to the same period last year.”

He added that since the introduction of the new patrol vehicle, a slight drop in crime was evident. He further explained that the vehicle will soon have four on-board CCTV cameras and one Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) camera installed in it, to allow the security company to “build up a record of all suspicious vehicles, a database of ‘bin diggers’ and identify repeat patterns of vehicles moving through the suburb”.

However, when Randburg Sun asked the chairperson of the Linden Community Policing Forum, Jadd Harding, about the spikes in crime, he said crime in Blairgowrie had been “running stable for the last while”. He added that lately, crime in the area had been “relatively light” compared to other areas the Linden police jurisdiction.

Jed Kemery, chairperson of the Blairgowrie Community Association said there was no recent spike in crime in the area, but warnings of crime are always good.

“In 3 300 homes we usually have between 14-16 incidents per week,” explained Kemery. “Crime has been stable recently but I do not downplay the importance of warning the community to be safe.”

Details: Linden police 011 888 9212, ADT 086 010 0911, Blairgowrie Community Association 071 345 0209 or info@myblairgowrie.co.za