Crime is a reality that South Africans have to face.
To empower domestic workers, gardeners and the community, Penny Steyn, founder of Making a Difference (MAD), held her Domestic Watch meeting this month on the topic of protecting a crime scene and what one should do when faced with crime.
Forensics play a big role in catching a suspect after a crime has been committed. ”It is vital that people know what to do to protect a crime scene before the police arrive. Most of the time it is the domestic worker or the gardener who will notice if something is out of place at the house as they would be there most of the time,” explained Steyn.
She described how a domestic worker played a big role in pointing out key evidence in a break-in that took place a few years ago. “She had noticed that there was a plastic wrapper of a cigarette box in the passage of the house, and she knew that no one in the house smoked. From something as simple as the wrapper the suspect was caught,” said Steyn.
Constable Mmatlou Mokoka of Rosebank police commended the topic chosen. “The community needs to be informed about these things. They need to know that if they see something at a crime scene they should not touch it because it will be harder to investigate the scene once it is contaminated,” he said.
Steyn also advised that should they find themselves a victim of crime, they should always try to keep calm. Try to talk to their attackers. Do as the attackers instruct and try and peep at the attackers and criminals to identify them at a later stage.
“I really feel that this class will help me because I know how to look after myself if there are criminals in front of me. If something happens I will also know how to keep the place so that when the police come they can find the evidence that will help them find the criminals,” said Alice Ndlovu, a domestic worker in the Rosebank area.
Details: madpenny@absamail.co.za
