Sadly, there are still many criminal incidents that go unreported each year. The problem with this is that it contributes to the dissemination of misinformation around crime.
What the SAPS and private security companies really need to apprehend suspects is accurate and contextualised information. Fidelity ADT’s national marketing and communications manager, Charnel Hattingh, says no matter how big, small or how insignificant you feel the crime is, you need to report it.
Read this: How to report a crime
“What the public needs to understand is that by reporting crime you are helping the authorities establish crime trends. This in turn leads to better allocation of resources,” she said. It also helps identify both the motive and modus of the crime.
“Your crime report could also lead to more arrests as your crime could be a critical link to another similar crime.”
Hattingh added that through crime reports, trends are established that assist communities and home owners to make better decisions regarding their safety plans and security systems.
“Encourage your domestic employees, children and neighbours to report any criminal incidents they may have witnessed or been directly affected by. There is sometimes apprehension or fear associated with reporting a crime so explain that this can be done confidentially.
Sometimes criminals threaten further violence if a crime is reported. However, by not reporting the crime, these criminals will carry on doing this to other victims. It is our responsibility to step up and report what happened.”
According to Hattingh, it may be helpful to accompany a friend or family member to the police station when a crime needs to be reported. “Offer your support or consider a trauma counsellor to assist if the victim is showing signs of trauma. Reporting a crime is often a big step in the healing process,” she added.
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