December is a time for holiday cheer and carols and gifts… and crime.
There are a number of reasons why crime rates increase over the festive season; from increased participation in alcohol consumption and the consumption of recreational drugs, to the added financial stress of the festive season.
One study found, on analysis of the monthly national crime in South Africa between 2006 and 2011 that crimes like murder and serious assault increase by up to 50% during December each year.
On November 16, a young woman awoke in Tasbet Park to the sound of a loud bang.
“I looked up from my bed and saw three men at my bedroom window busy breaking off my burglar bars with a crowbar,” the young woman explained, “before I really had time to react, they were through the window and standing at the foot of my bed – pointing a revolver at me.”
One of the three men stayed with the young woman, whilst the other two robbers ransacked her home. The robbers got away with an expensive flat screen television and the young woman’s laptop.
“I had just finished paying off the television on lay-by. It wasn’t insured, so this is a huge financial loss for me,” the woman explained sombrely, “it will take me months to finance a similar television. So no Christmas movies for me this December.”
A case of house robbery was opened with Witbank SAPS, but no arrests had been made at the time of publication.
