PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Bitou's newest neighbourhood watch group is now kitted out for the job thanks to a few good Samaritans.

Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said crime as a serious problem in South African needs to be addressed with cost-effective solutions "that work".

"Active neighbourhood watch groups are a well-proven crime prevention strategy. Within these groups' framework, crime prevention patrol activities are carried out under the guidance of the Community Safety Act and police," Olivier said.

He added that concerned residents of New Horizons came together before the festive season to find ways of addressing crime in the area. During the meeting, the New Horizons Neighbourhood Watch Group (NHNWG) was founded.

"Elected chairman Charles Breda led from the front and patrols slowly but surely gained momentum. Last weekend, 27 volunteers reported for patrol duty, giving up their precious family time to patrol their community's streets."

In an effort to bolster their activities, the New Horizons Pensioners Club made their clubhouse available to the group as a meeting place for members. PBCPA executive tasked with overseeing neighbourhood watch groups, Steven Green, managed to secure sponsorship for the New Horizons group from Fedelity ADT. The company sponsored not only branded reflective bibs, but also pepper spray, a baton and self-defense training. Green, who is also the Fidelity ADT branch manager in Plettenberg Bay, handed over the equipment to Breda and his executive team on 22 February. 

"Fidelity ADT has been a PBCPA member since it was founded in 2010 and is valued for their ongoing assistance, response to incidents and commitment towards our common goal: working with all security and emergency partners towards a safer and crime-free Plettenberg Bay."

The NHNWG's efforts have already started paying off. "A huge feather in their cap is the recent arrest of suspects that broke into the Plettenberg Bay Secondary School and stole several electronic devices and equipment. When a member spotted the suspects, he gave chace and apprehended one of the culprits that had some of the stolen goods in his possession."

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