PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Authorities have warned Plettenberg Bay residents against “carelessness” following several incidents of theft over the past month.
The warning comes after a crime analysis meeting between the various roleplayers of the Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA), which includes local police, municipal law enforcement, security companies and neighbourhood watch groups.
According to the police, complainants are leaving their houses open and their belongings "outside unattended”.
“This is the sort of crime that is so easily preventable with a little care… this type of carelessness is sustaining criminals in our town that we are working so hard to eliminate. If residents would simply take reasonable care of their belongings, it would make the job of those committed to eliminating crime from our town so much easier,” said PBCPA chair Bruce Richardson.
'Don't trust just anyone'
Following a spate of burglaries in the Keurbooms River area, senior detectives from the Plettenberg Bay police also warned to be cautious when it comes to contractors carrying out building, companies doing various installations, gardening services or any other service providers. They said that giving access codes or keys to these individuals or organisations is not wise and could be seen as an “invitation to criminal activity”.
“As a community we need to heed these warnings which have been given in the context of ongoing investigations. We need to take the time and trouble to ensure that all access is properly supervised in such a manner that persons and organisations cannot use any information given out to come back and carry out criminal activity. We should all be operating on a need-to-know basis other than with members of our own family and those residing within our homes either permanently or temporarily. In short, we are equipping criminals to break into our houses. We need to cease doing this,” Richardson said.
'Don't tip night car guards'
The meeting also revealed that a comprehensive exercise to ascertain the status of the town’s “car guards” operating at night was carried out last week. Richardson said that this revealed disturbing information. “Every individual searched was in possession of illegal substances such as tik, Mandrax, dagga together with the apparatus to use such drugs.”
He added that there is reason to believe that the “tips” the guards receive are being used to fund, among others, their drug purchases.
“While the PBCPA will be encouraging and assisting with regular exercises to combat this menace, a primary way for us all to combat this problem is to refrain from giving money to these persons carrying our car guarding activities at night," Richardson said.
“We need the cooperation of every member of our society to eliminate criminal activity from our beautiful town. Without that cooperation you make the task of those volunteers who are keeping us safe so much more difficult," he concluded, urging each resident to "play your role”.
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