Warning despite 20% decline in crime
Be vigilant especially at the ATMs, say police
INCIDENTS of crime reported last month are down compared to the figures for January, according to the figures presented at the Sector 2, Rapid Rural Response (RRR) and Community Policing Forum (CPF) meeting, last Thursday at the Port Alfred SAPS offices.
Sergeant Vincent Plaatjies presented the crime statistics which indicated a general drop of around 20% for the month of February, but warned that ATM as well as other incidents of fraud were not included in his report.
“People are warned to be vigilant when drawing money from ATM machines, particularly at night, when no one else is around.
“We have had a number of reports of fraud regarding loans that offer huge amounts of money with very small repayments,” said Plaatjies, who suggested people refrain from falling for these cons.
“If a deal seems too good to be true then it probably is.”
Property crime is up, specifically in the industrial area (Sector 3A) as well as Sector 4, but crime in Sector 2 was much reduced.
It was also stated that contact crime in Station Hill and the East Bank was up, and Plaatjies said this was of growing concern.
Contact crime includes assault, robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances, as well as rape, murder and attempted murder. There also seems to be a group travelling around in a silver (or grey) car who are invading homes and stealing specific items.
Members of the public are cautioned to report any suspicious incidents, specifically ones involving such a vehicle.
The question of policing over the Christmas and New Year holidays was also brought up at the meeting and Station Commander Colonel Lizette Zeelie commented that she has been in a debriefing with the municipality who has promised to have the problems of seasonal policing sorted out.
“We have volunteers,” said Zeelie, “but they have no powers of arrest or even the power to issue fines,” she explained.
The RRR meeting discussed their concerns regarding business crimes committed in the area, referring specifically to the daytime robberies at Olaf’s Spares and LG Gas. They committed to resolving these issues as soon as possible.
CPF chairwoman Heather Leicher asked that more use be made of WhatsApp (smartphone application) in reporting crimes, and that a group for the CPF should be established. She also warned about internet fraud and cautioned residents to be more aware and not to fall for these scams. Zeelie spoke of the problems with cattle on the roads in Port Alfred, adding that, although the pound was apparently in operation, there were no vehicles available to transport the animals to Alexandria.
“We gather the cattle up and have even kept them at the station until the owners pick them up. We have issued fines for the return of the cattle, but it doesn’t make up for the waste of my officers’ time,” she said.
It was reported that MultiSecurity had offered to install two cameras at the Port Alfred Police Station – one in the charge office and the other at the armoury, to help prevent crime. Zeelie thanked MultiSecurity for their donation.
There will be a CPF stand established at the Bathurst Show, which will run from tomorrow to Sunday at the Bathurst Showgrounds.
There will also be another crime awareness day, at Rosehill Mall next Saturday from 10am to 12 noon, where police and CPF will work together to make residents and visitors more aware of how to prevent crime in the area.
Leicher reminded those in attendance that the next CPF meeting would take place at the Port Alfred SAPS offices at 3.30pm on April 18, and that everyone is invited to attend.