MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Bo-Dorp Neighbourhood Watch on patrol in Milner Street this weekend found an open garage with the lights on at a guesthouse.
Inside the garage, two parked yet unlocked vehicles with valuables were found, but more worrying is that all the doors and windows leading to the house were open while the occupants were sleeping.
With the help of members of the police the occupants were woken and asked to close up and lock all access to the home.
The chairperson of the Mossel Bay Community Policing Forum, Leon van Dyk, thanks sergeants Hansen and Abrahams for their speedy response.
"We have repeatedly sent several messages to local residents to safely lock away all valuables, to ensure that their properties are securely safeguarded with adequate safety precautions such as alarms, and for vehicles to be locked and safely parked behind closed gates or, preferably in locked garages," Van Dyk said. He emphasised the need for greater cooperation with neighbourhood watches to ensure the general safety of the area.
"During the same NHW patrol we found vehicles parked at a guesthouse in Hogarth Street. A vehicle with obvious valuables and an open front door was found."
"We are becoming victims of crime due to negligence or an apparent attitude of 'it won’t happen to me'. Crime abounds because some residents are not taking responsibility for their or the neighbourhood's safety at all."
Both scenarios were discovered between 23:30 and 01:30.
"The NHW and SA Police can only do so much; the rest is in the hands of the owners, their guests and visitors and the greater community."
Van Dyk also thanked 12 new patrollers for getting involved to make a difference in the fight against crime.
"When we started the Bo-Dorp Neighbourhood Watch our target was to involve at least 150 patrollers. We are currently on 130 patrollers, however, only about 106 are active owing to work commitments, leave, illnesses and other circumstances impacting the total number of active patrollers at any one time. To have the greatest impact we have to increase the number of patrollers urgently."
"We need everyone to help us make a success of the Golf Day, so we can raise funds to secure the work of the NHW in the area in your interest."
"Provisional figures indicate the amount needed to be between R250 000 and R300 000. Everybody is receiving the regular WhatsApp updates, but what we need is everybody to become involved, in whatever possible manner."
"Please note that according to available statistics the incidents of certain types of criminal activity have doubled in the last month, especially break-ins and theft out of motor vehicles. Everyone has a duty to be more vigilant and to inform the neighbourhood watch of suspicious behaviour."
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