Police issue safety tips ahead of the Easter holidays

Easter is around the corner and residents from different parts of Rand West City will soon be making their way to their various holiday destinations.

As a result, Bekkersdal Police Station Commander Colonel Phumelele Matamela has urged residents to be cautious around this time of the year.
This is because criminals will be looking for a window of opportunity to prey on residents and their homes.

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“During this time of the year, most of our communities go to churches, and camps and even visit family and friends who are out of town. My tips would be that they should try by all means not to leave their houses unattended and should they be in a position to do so, then they should rather get someone to look after their property on their behalf,” said Matamela who added that they often experience an increase in property crime during this time of the year.

According to her, houses are not the only target for criminals, as people fall prey to criminals as well, especially the youth.

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“I want to appeal to our youth, especially during this time of the year to refrain from frequenting liquor outlets at night. This is because they have a tendency of walking alone in dark and deserted areas and this makes them an easy target for criminals, especially in cases of rape, assault, and robbery,” said Matamela.

She also highlighted that motorists need to refrain from offering lifts to hitchhikers, as the N12 in Bekkersdal has become a hotspot for hijackings.

She also warned against the dangers of drinking and driving which sometimes contributes to cases of culpable homicide.