WITH an increase in house burglaries and theft over the last few weeks, Amanzimtoti police station have provided safety tips in an attempt to help the community.
Amanzimtoti police station’s communication officer, Captain Charlene van der Spuy, says in most cases, entry is gained by breaking the door or a window.
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They are pleading with the community at large to work with them in an attempt to minimise house burglaries in the area.
Van der Spuy said, “Together, we can decrease crime. It is important for the community to take responsibility for securing their homes as much as possible. Some criminals commit crime because there is an opportunity presented to them – be it an open window, unlocked door and so forth.”
In an attempt to help the community and bring awareness in preventing house burglaries, Amanzimtoti police station have provided the following safety tips:
- Make sure your doors and windows are locked at all times, especially when you are not inside the premises.
- Leave lights on when going out in the evening.
- Do not leave your keys with people you do not trust.
- Do not leave your keys in the postbox or under the mat where people can see you collecting them or dropping them off.
- Try to ensure all windows and doors have burglar guards and locks.
- Remove bushy areas inside your yard as they pose good hiding spots for opportunistic criminals.
- Create good relationships with your neighbours so they can be your eyes when you are not there and assist you in case of an emergency.
- Make sure your valuables, such as jewellery, cellphones, laptops and any other electronic devices, and cash and so forth, are not visible from the outside when not in use.
- Have at least one dog that will always alert you when something suspicious is happening in and around your area.
- Be sure to contact the SAPS emergency number (10111) or Amanzimtoti police station immediately if your house or neighbour’s house is being broken into.
- A criminal case needs to be reported to the SAPS in order for us to identify hotspots and targeted areas.
- Secure/safeguard all outbuildings and storage units on your premises as they can become easy targets.
- When you arrive home and you have suffered a house burglary, report the incident to SAPS immediately. Do not touch anything, and wait for the arrival of the police to ensure it is safe to enter your home.
- A fingerprint expert will be booked by SAPS who will in turn come out to check for possible fingerprints left by the perpetrator.
- Positive fingerprints will be put on the criminal record database, which could lead to identifying possible suspects and bringing them to book.
Van der Spuy says, “Remember, if there is no report made to SAPS, there is no record of the incident.”
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