Due to shutdown regulations the thoroughfare of people on roads has decreased.
The important question is has this had an impact on the crime levels in our communities?
The Randburg Sun/Northcliff Melville Times sat down with Captain Alex Vermaak of the Linden Police Station to find out whether the lockdown has had an impact on criminals and their behaviour. He said since the lockdown crime levels have decreased considerably. “Contact crimes, especially robbery aggravating and assaults, have seen an unprecedented decrease in the last two weeks.” Even so, property related crimes such as vehicle thefts were being reported.
Much to their appreciation, the station has had a lot of support from the community as they have received masks and sanitisers donated through the Linden Community Police Forum. “We also want to thank those community members who kept to the regulations for doing so,” he said.
However, even though the Linden police were grateful for the community’s continued support, they were firm in their stance that they have a zero tolerance as far as the enforcement of the Disaster Management Act is concerned and they urge people to stay in compliance with those regulations. “It is a first in a lifetime situation that we find ourselves in and it requires patience, resilience and joint efforts to get us through this time.”
