Police are warning visitors who jog and walk in Delta Park to be vigilant of an increase in crime.
Several concerned readers contacted the Randburg Sun in the past week to inform the paper of robberies that occurred during the weekend of 10 October.
Linden Police Station spokesperson Constable Takalani Matumba said that in one such incident, a victim and his girlfriend were walking in Delta Park taking pictures when they were allegedly robbed at gunpoint by three suspects.
“One suspect threatened the couple with a firearm and the other two were armed with knives,” said Matumba.
One suspect allegedly took the victim’s wallet and the others demanded cell phones. What the suspects did not realise is that the victim was also armed, and when the suspect’s attention was drawn away, the victim pulled out his gun and fired warning shots into the ground, causing the suspects to scatter.
“The suspects dropped the cell phones but made away with the wallet. The victim suggested that no suspects were hit when he fired his weapon,” she said.
The Linden police have acknowledged an increase in these type of cases at Delta Park and are warning visitors to be vigilant.
“Criminals like to target individuals who visit our parks, and it may be due to the relaxed atmosphere they experience there. Many incidents like this go unreported, and we further encourage victims to report their crimes so that we can monitor how bad the situation is and how we can help.”
Matumba provided some safety tips to adhere to when visiting parks:
- Do not walk alone, especially elderly persons
- Do not wear valuables in the open that are flashy, like gold rings and chains
- Let someone know the details regarding your whereabouts before visiting
- Do not walk in the dark
- Report the incident promptly on WhatsApp and other community groups to alert fellow users
- Phone the police to come out to the place where the incident happened.
- Do not wait nearby too long
- When witnessing an incident of crime, call Linden Police Station on 10111 or 011 888 9299
- For a park by-law violation, call the Metro police on 011 375 5811 If the authorities can respond quickly, you or a witness should keep the perpetrator in sight and take the officer to the perpetrator
- Open a case at the police station, if necessary, and write down your case number.
