Sandton residents and motorists are urged to remain self-aware as increased trends of residential burglary and car hijacking are reported to the Sandton Police Station.
According to spokesperson Captain Bheki Xulu, the station has seen a slight increase in reported cases of a burglary at residential premises and car hijacking while theft out of motor vehicle indicates a decrease.
Xulu added that in some reported burglary cases members of the community are not practising safety measures when leaving the house or sleeping at night. “People leave bathroom windows opened, upper stair windows are left open when they [residents] are sleeping or went out since the weather is hot this season and in some cases complainants are not sure if they locked the doors.”
According to crime reports, most of the burglary incidents occur during the evening or early hours of the morning (6pm to 2.30am) and the area which is most targeted since the beginning of the month is Morningside.
Residents are encouraged to practise the following safety precautions, as shared by the South African Police Service:
- Ensure that all doors are locked at all times and that windows are closed when you are not at home.
- If you leave your residence, inform your family or neighbours of your intended destination, time you expect to return and the route you will be driving, especially if you reside in a rural area.
- Ensure that tools such as axes, spades, picks, ladders, etc. that can be used in an attack, are locked away when you do not use them.
- Vary your daily routine.
- Get into the habit of not immediately falling asleep after switching off the lights.
- You should not be visible in the bedroom from the outside when you are asleep.
- Always keep a torch nearby at night and when you use it, ensure that you do not give away your position.
- If you are unsure about the security status of your home after returning from work or a visit, for example your dogs do not come to the gate, do not enter your home. Contact your neighbour to assist you in securing your home.
- Report suspicious behaviour and information to the SAPS.
- Take photographs of all employees; it could be to your advantage to identify them if required.
- Do not employ casual workers without a reference, keep copies of all your employees’ identity documents.
- Ensure that you have a good relationship with your neighbours so that you will be in a good position to support and help each other.
Xulu went on to encourage motorists to remain vigilant and self-aware on the roads at all time.
On 19 January at approximately 9am a complainant was hijacked of a company vehicle, a white Isuzu bakkie, with a trailer loaded with 22 truck tyres at the Rivonia off-ramp to the N1-South highway. The driver claims that he was stopped by police driving an unmarked police vehicle because siren was used to pull him off the road.
“Public members have the right to request a police identity card from a police official and always be vigilant of your surroundings when driving or being stopped. The description of the suspects, registration number and permanent marks like scars or tattoos in order to assist with the investigation,” Xulu concluded.
The Station Commander at Sandton Police Station is requesting the community to work with police and other law enforcement agencies to discourage criminal activities in the Sandton policing precinct by reporting to CRIMESTOP on 08600 10111 or the Sandton Police Station on 011 722 4200.
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