KNYSNA NEWS - Wednesday, June 7 brought with it a day that no Knysna resident will ever forget.
At times, it seemed as though the Allsound control room was a mini-operations centre, with many clients turning to our staff for advice on where to evacuate to, requests for assistance to find family members, and callers needing response from emergency services.
At the peak of the fire, additional staff and management stepped into the control room to help take calls, provide information and phone clients in immediate danger to evacuate. In an unprecedented decision, priority had to shift from saving property to saving lives.
In the days following the fire, a large portion of incoming calls was spent managing misinformation ranging from hoax WhatsApp messages about people with petrol canisters deliberately lighting fires to reports of large-scale looting.
Our statistics show that the week immediately following the fire, house break-ins were no higher than usual. However, the following week of June 15 to 21 saw an increase. The areas affected were not restricted to those vulnerable without electricity, but many other suburbs that experienced a spike in criminal activity.
Allsound received many reports of trespassing and suspicious persons, some of which resulted in people being found in possession of stolen copper and other metal items salvaged from burn sites. While there is no doubt that certain known criminal elements were taking advantage of the situation, many new faces were appearing for more petty incidents of theft.
It was incomprehensible to find out that in the midst of raging fire in Knysna Heights, five suspects reportedly stole emergency personnel jackets from a truck and broke into a house. CCTV footage from outside the home showed suspects ducking the flames as they broke in. At that stage, all roads to that area were closed with no way of reaching the house. The homeowner watched the CCTV footage from his phone as the suspects helped themselves to valuables. A case has subsequently been opened with the Knysna SAPS and under investigation.
Our concern is moving forward over the coming weeks while many visitors will be in town for the Oyster Festival.
To limit opportunities to would-be thieves, we urge residents and visitors to take the following necessary precautions to safeguard their property:
• Arm your alarm systems at night using the stay function.
• Do not leave valuables lying around while at home with open doors and windows.
• Always use your alarm system when you go out (even if just for a few minutes).
• Pack valuables away from reach of windows.
Town area
Burglary/attempted burglary = 5
Theft = 4
Theft out of MV = 3
Paradise / Knysna Heights / Heuwelkruin
Burglary / attempted burglary = 7
Theft = 2
Burglary / attempted burglary = 2
Salt River / Green Pastures
Burglary / attempted burglary = 1
Theft = 1
Old Place / Costa SardaBurglary / attempted burglary = 2
Industrial Area / Hornlee / Nekkies
Burglary / attempted burglary = 3
Theft = 1
Fisher Haven / Hunters Home / Rexford
Burglary / attempted burglary = 9
Theft out of MV = 2
Belvidere / Phantom River
Theft = 1
Brenton-on-Sea / Lake Brenton
Burglary / attempted burglary = 6
Theft = 2
Rheenendal
Burglary / attempted burglary = 1
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
