KNYSNA NEWS - A strong, but friendly police presence at the Knysna Mall just before the holiday season was a way of telling people how to be safe, but also showing the strong arm of the law that will be applied to criminals this season.
Knysna police station management, led by Colonel Atwell Metu, in conjunction with the regional office of government communication systems, embarked on an awareness drive at the Knysna Mall on Thursday, December 15 as part of the festive season operations, which aims to provide a safe shopping environment for both shoppers and retailers.
Metu said that the police, in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies, has stepped up visibility in and around malls since the beginning of December. "The high visibility approach will be maintained throughout the festive period," he said. "It also includes visits to beaches and places where large groups of people gather."
The operations are held in conjunction with the Knysna municipal and provincial traffic, department of correctional services, SA National Parks SANParks, security companies and neighbourhood watch volunteers. Actions conducted include roadblocks, vehicle check points (VCPs), visits to shebeens, foot patrols in the CBD and beaches.
Liquor and drug abuse remains major contributors to the commission of violent crime in Knysna, and a special focus is therefore placed on these transgressions. This has led to the arrest of 49 suspects for drug-related offences and 29 suspects for drunkenness. Small amounts of dagga (cannabis), tik and Mandrax tablets were found on suspects and confiscated.
Continued emphasis on road safety led to the arrest of nine suspects for driving under the influence of liquor (drunken driving). One suspect was also arrested for culpable homicide and driving while under the influence of liquor after a pedestrian was hit by a vehicle over the weekend. The safety of road users are of utmost importance and drivers are requested to refrain from driving while under the influence of liquor.
Special tracing operations by the Knysna detectives led to the arrest of 22 suspects on outstanding warrants of arrests.
Other arrests were for sexually related offences, robbery, shoplifting, assault and assault with the intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
Theft out of motor vehicle remains one of the major challenges during the festive period. It is a known fact that theft out of motor vehicle and burglaries usually increase this time of the year. Arresting perpetrators is one of the means to protect the property of owners, and three suspects were arrested for burglaries, while two were apprehended for theft out of motor vehicles. One suspects was arrested for possession of stolen property after stolen items were found in his possession.
Colonel Atwell Metu (station commander), Elaine King (editor of Knysna Plett-Herald), Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Gogwana (visible policing commander) and Sergeant Chris Spies (communications officer). Photo:Cheryl Britz.
- Avoid displaying valuables where criminals can see them.
- Keep your cellphone away from the public eye.
- Avoid parking your vehicle where there are no security officers guarding other cars.
- Make sure that all the doors and windows are properly locked when you park your car.
- Lock your valuables in the car's boot before departure.
- Remove detachable radios and the radio's face when getting out of the car.
- Parking lots with a parking attendant or supervision/someone patrolling are best, otherwise try to park in locations that are well lit and or well populated and not crowded by bushes or buildings where offenders might hide.
Visibility at hotspots increased since October 2015 as part of our first phase of the festive season operations. Foot patrols at malls and beaches will be stepped up from this week until the end of the festive season period. A special awareness drive will be conducted at the mall this coming Thursday.
The public are once again advised to take extra precaution when using ATMs. A number of cases involving bogus car guards (parking meter attendants) were reported recently in Knysna. These perpetrators approached motorists, especially tourists, to pay for parking and subsequently accompany them to ATMs with the aim to steal large sums of cash from the unknowing victims.
- Be alert and conscious of your surroundings when using an ATM.
- Never give your card or PIN to anyone, for any reason.
- Do not insert your card until asked to do so by the display screen.
- Never use an ATM with a blank screen and, if the ATM is obscured from view or poorly lit, leave immediately and find another ATM.
- Stand close to the ATM and use your body and hand as shield to make sure nobody sees you keying in your PIN.
- Never accept help from strangers when using an ATM. You should be wary of strangers asking for help.
- Criminals work in teams – one to distract you, while the other one steals your card or money.
- Never allow a bystander to call the toll-free stop card line on your behalf – they could be tricking you into thinking your card has been stopped.
If you need help, ask a bank official.
We shall continue with our efforts such as the roadblocks and VCPs to ensure the safety of all. This integrated and zero-tolerance approach with other law enforcement agencies and counterparts will be sustained until the end of the festive season. The prevention of crime and the overall safety of the public remains our core function. We therefore appeal to the public and visitors alike to cooperate and enjoy the festive season, but to do so within the ambit of the law.
* Please report any illegal activity to the SAPS at 10111 or contact Crime Stop at 08600-10111.
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