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HOUSE NUMBERS

Is your house clearly numbered? Do this exercise when you come home one evening – look for your house number! If YOU can’t see it, an emergency vehicle won’t see it! A visible house number may just save a life one day.

I ride with the SAPS and also respond to police complaints as I have a police radio. Many times it is difficult to find homes as no house numbers are visible anywhere. The minutes lost trying to find your house number can mean the difference between life and death. CKN made sure your road name was re-painted so please see that your home can be found at night.

A warning to folk who have just moved into the area – be on your guard – amid the confusion of moving, your home could be a soft target. 

CRIME STATISTICS IN CKN

CRIME TIPS

When you phone the Honeydew Police Station on 011 801 8613/4/5 please take note

Residents are asked to take care when phoning burglary and robbery complaints through to the SAPS.

A burglary is when your house is broken into whilst you are away. The SAPS will come to take statements but will not “break their necks” to get to you as it is now after the event.

A robbery is when you have been held up and robbed at gunpoint. When a robbery is reported, all available resources are despatched to the caller.

Please make the differentiation between the two crimes when phoning the SAPS.

 

When reporting suspicious cars and persons, please try and take down as many details as possible e.g. the time the vehicle was spotted, the color of the vehicle, the make and if possible, the registration number.  

When reporting suspicious people remember their race, gender (male or female), height, clothes, color of their clothes, distinctive features e.g. birth marks, limps etc. 

Advising me, the SAPS or Aqua that a suspicious “white car” was seen in the area is insufficient.   Clear descriptions make it so much easier to catch the culprits. 

Many domestic servants report suspicious people. Please make them aware of the above. Better still, let them read this newsletter.

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LADIES, BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

PLEASE READ .  IT'S SIMPLE STUFF THAT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE

A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around to cut clothing.

They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

The time of day men are most likely to attack and rape a woman is in the early morning, between 5 and 8:30 a.m.   Women are abducted from/attacked at grocery store parking lots, office-parking lots/garages. and public restrooms.

The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.

If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon.

Several defence mechanisms:

If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk, "I can't believe it is so cold out here, we're in for a bad winter."

Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up, you lose appeal as a target. If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and

yell "Stop" or "Stay back!" Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back.

Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

If you carry pepper spray (highly recommended) yell "I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY" and holding it out will be a deterrent. If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can outsmart them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm between the elbow and armpit or in the upper inner thigh - HARD.

One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it – it hurts. After the initial hit, always go for the groin. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble, and he's out of there.

When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible.

Of course the things we always hear still apply.

Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you  if you can and if you see any odd behaviour, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts.

You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

 

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SOME TIPS

ANTI HIJACK TIPS

Put Safety first

1. Always leave your window approx. 5cm open - if the  window is totally closed, it is easier for them to break!
2. Always put your bag under the passenger seat or in the boot - never grab for it when you are getting out the car when being hijacked. He will think you are reaching for a gun and shoot you.
3. Don't use petrol stations after 9pm - they are now hijacking there too.
4. Always keep your cell clipped to your belt - thus when you are out of the car you can call for help.
5. Be more aware - count the number of cars around you, the number of people in groups etc. then you will know exactly when one is missing!
6. Don't race to the robot if it is red - you get hijacked only when the car is stationary - thus glide to the red robot, so there is only a short time until the robot turns green.
7. Be very aware when going under bridges - they drop stones onto your windscreen etc. forcing you to stop. 
8. When the gun is put to your window - put both hands up facing him -always allow him to see your hands otherwise he thinks you are looking around for a gun and will shoot you.
9. Be aware of where the police station is in your work/home area. If a "cop" wants to pull you over drive to the police station first - maybe he is not a cop.
10. The human body takes 21 days to kick into a habit -therefore, don't give up on being aware, persist for at least 21 days.
11. They are after BMW's, Golfs and Toyotas - be very aware if you have one.
12. Of course - keep your doors locked.
13. If you have a kid, always put their car seat behind the driver's seat, it is easier to get out him out the car if he is behind you than having to lean over and take him out the passenger side or walk around the car to take him out the back seat behind the passenger seat.
14. When driving up to your house, never park in your driveway facing the gate, they can park behind you and park you in - making it easier to get what they want. Always stop in the road until the gate is open before you turn into your driveway. That way, should anything look suspicious, you can drive off.

Please now, we don't want anymore people dying than have to, pass this on to everyone. 

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We have, on a number of occasions responded to suspicious characters in the area only to find that the owners of the house are away and have put out their dirt bin on Friday or Saturday (for collection on Monday!) and so clearly signaling that they are away. Please do not make yourself a target and ask your neighbour to put out the ready filled dirt bin.

Patrols also regularly find open gates. Take the effort to close your gates and so make your home safer.

We have had numerous reports of persons knocking on doors, asking to speak to the domestic worker with an attempt to sell goods. Whilst some of these approaches are legitimate, please take care as there are times when the person calling is only checking to ascertain who is home and who is not.

Vehicles with darkly tinted windows are illegal and should be regarded as suspicious.

Take crime as a reality and remember, crime occurs at any time and any place.

Take responsibility for cars on pavements and standing out, lock security gates and be on the look out for anything suspicious in your street.

Whilst the members of CKN are striving to make the area crime free, criminals can and still do enter the area.

Always give the name of the nearest street corner to yours to the SAPS or emergency services should you phone them. This makes it easier for them to find you, especially if you live in a long road.

Also, is your house number clearly visible? Those extra seconds to find you could mean life or death. Even our patrol members who know the area well have had trouble identifying a house due to lack of a visible house number.

Remember driving whilst on a cell phone is illegal. You would be surprised at the drivers we meet at our roadblocks talking on cell phones whilst driving, not wearing seat belts, children included, and not carrying drivers licenses.

Again we cannot stress enough the importance of being vigilant at all times.

Do not enter your premises if you are being followed. Clear the verges outside your property so that you have a clear view of the entrance to your property.

Do not enter if you see any loiterers
and report ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE POLICE ON 011 801 8613 / 4 / 5

Your CKN committee can also be contacted.

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Please take care at the robots along Hendrik Potgieter.
We have had a hijacking at the corner of Albert Street and Hendrik Potgieter and have also chased suspicious characters at these intersections. We now patrol along Hendrik Potgieter and Jim Fouche.

Let us know if you are going away so we can watch your house, collect post etc. Lights burning during the day are a give away. Make your house look lived in so that you don’t come home to a house that has been broken into.

We are aware of houses being marked with blue paint ahead of burglaries. Take note of suspicious marking on or near your house. This includes items such as tins or paper packets tied to a tree on your pavement.

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Women traveling in vehicles alone must put their handbags, cell phones and valuables out of sight, as they are being targeted by two neatly dressed young black males, armed with a pistol at intersections and in font of their homes.

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 Times for Crimes

Security Information

We are providing this information to make you aware of some of the many scams criminals will use to victimise you.
It is always recommended that you take care at all times.
When you have doubts about a situation follow your instincts and phone the police.
Rather be safe than sorry

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Imagine:
You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. Then you lock all your doors, start the engine and shift into REVERSE.

Habit! You look into the rear-view window to back out of your parking space and you notice a piece of paper, some sort of advertisement stuck to your rear window. So, you shift into PARK, unlock your doors and jump out of your vehicle to remove that paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view... when you reach the back of your car, that is when the car-jackers jump out of nowhere ... jump into your car and take off -- your engine was running, your purse is in the car, and they practically mow you down as they speed off in your car.

BE AWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME Just drive away and remove the paper that is stuck to your window later.

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We have been informed of the following scam, which is targeting females in particular. They receive a phone call at work, from the Post Office asking them to confirm their company postcode. When this is given, they are told that they have become eligible for some gift vouchers for their co-operation and are asked to provide their home address and postcode in order to receive the vouchers. So far 90% of the women who have provided this information have been burgled as it is assumed that their homes are empty during office hours. The police are aware of this scam and the Post Office have confirmed that they are NOT conducting postcode surveys.

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Also, it has been reported if you receive a telephone call from an individual who identifies himself/herself as being a Post Office Service Technician and who was conducting a test on that telephone line, or anyone else who asks you to do the following, DONT DO IT.  They will state that, to complete the test, the recipient should touch nine zero, then hash (90#) and then hang up. To do this gives full access to your phone line, which allows them to place a long distance international or chat-line calls billed to your account. The information which the police have, suggests that many of these calls are emanating from local jails and prisons. The information has been checked out by the police and is correct.  DO NOT PRESS 90# FOR ANYONE.

Would anyone reading this please pass the information on to colleagues, friends, etc., otherwise it could cost someone a lot of money.

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The thieves of South Africa are now using a new modus operandi, namely your local delivery man, eg Pizza Deliveries or Mr. Delivery. They will wait at the pizza place and then will follow the delivery man to your house.

When the delivery man arrives at your home what do we usually do ? We will open all the gates, doors and send our children out to pay for the pizza.

This is when the thieves attack. They force themselves into your home tie you up and help themselves to your belongings. During this time they will also traumatize your children.

This can happen any time of the day.  Please take care when ordering a delivery from a fast food outlet.

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Three men posing as alarm technicians with Chubb shirts are gaining access to homes by pretending to come and repair the burglar alarm. If anyone from Chubb is requesting access please ask for identification cards which must be red cards with the man’s photo on it. Also all Chubb technicians drive signwritten cars. If these people do not check out press the panic button and call the SAPS.

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It is possible that people are still being followed home from local shopping centres between 18h30 and 20h00. If you are at the shop at these hours you can't stay far away! 

Please be aware of the possibility that you are being followed.

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Notice from Telkom

It would appear that our area has become a target for the fraudsters who tap into Telkom lines (your phone line) and use them for illegal purposes leaving you sitting with the bill.  You can get Telkom to block dialling to non-South African numbers on your phone, which will go some way to stopping the fraudsters.

Here is how to report the matter:
Crime Call Centre (available 24 x 7 x 365):
* Call Centre Number: 086 012 4000
* Fax: (012) 348 6455
* E-mail: CrimeCC@telkom.co.za ( Please send them a test message and await confirmation to see if works)

Crime Incident Reporting & Tip Off's

Objective: To gather as much information on irregular activities or contravention of the law on Telkom properties or services. i.e. (Theft , Burglaries, Fraud, etc)

Procedure: Place a call to the above Telkom Crime Call centre. A reference number will be supplied when called. All information received will be handled confidentially and a person can remain anonymous. Once the information is logged into the system, it will be sent to the relevant Telkom Regional Manager who will then allocate a Telkom investigator to the case. Only two people will have access to the information i.e. the Telkom Investigator and the Telkom Regional Manager.Incident Categories (Telkom related)

Burglary - An Illegal entry into a Telkom building with intent to commit crime such as theft.

Fraud - Impersonation with intent to deceive; criminal deception done with the intention of gaining an advantage, misrepresentation of fact.

Robbery - The act of forcefully taking an item from a person. Like Armed robbery, threatening to cause bodily harm if the item is not given.

Theft - The action or crime of stealing, thing acquired illegally. Note: the owner is not present when the items are stolen.(Including hi-jacking or theft of vehicle.)