Linden Police Station’s Captain Vermaak has once again warned the community to be vigilant and not take their safety for granted.
This comes after an increase in common robberies and common assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm in recent months.
“People should not walk around talking on their cell phones in the street or listening to music if they can avoid it,” said Vermaak. “This brings unwanted attention from criminals and they are not afraid to snatch your items away and make a run for it.”
The captain also wants homeowners to empower their domestic workers with the knowledge of what to do during a house robbery as they are the last line of defence.
“Teach them where the panic button is and give them airtime to call because every second is precious,” added Vermaak. “They are there to protect your home when you are not there so why not make sure they do so.
“It takes too long for them to call for help at times and knowing where the panic button is can make all the difference. In some cases, domestic workers have had to use ‘please call me’ to contact the homeowners because they don’t have airtime.”
Another warning the captain wanted to give to the community is to not leave their valuables in their vehicles.
This is especially so if they will be away from their vehicles for a long period of time, as criminals have been targeting motorists parking their vehicles at sports complexes and gyms.
But Vermaak also warned criminals that they will not get away with targeting the community and will be locked away behind bars before long.
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