Lockdown could help reduce crime in SA – expert

AN ANTI-CRIME activist and research organisations are hopeful that the presence of SAPS and SANDF during the national lockdown will help reduce crime in the country.

Head of justice and violence prevention at the Institute for Security Studies, Gareth Newham, said: “The most heavily affected countries do not share many of the characteristics of South Africa. We would thus be hesitant to make predictions based on those experiences.

“However, we will be closely monitoring the situation over the period in order to assess how the Covid-19 and the lockdown impacts on the public safety situation.”

Anti-crime activist Yusuf Abramjee said there had been two cash-in-transit robberies as well as a number of business robberies in what he called “last-minute panic shopping” by criminals.

He said the increased police and SANDF presence would hopefully reduce crime.

“But criminals will always try their luck. My appeal to all homeowners and essential businesses who are going to be open is to stay vigilant. Do not let your guard down. Unemployment will contribute to crime. This is a worry,” he said.

And while the lockdown was critical and welcomed by most, criminals were using the pandemic scare to try to rob people of their money, pretending to be from Sars.

Susan Potgieter, acting SA Banking Risk Information Centre chief executive, said cyber criminals were also using SMS phishing.

She said they enticed people to click on a link disguised as information on a coronavirus outbreak in their area. They then stole their credentials.

“We urge all bank clients to think twice before clicking on any link, even if an email looks legitimate,” Potgieter said.