ANTI-HIJACK UPDATE FOR JULY 2010

July has been a bad month for smash and grabs from all the ‘hot spots’ reported previously - traffic lights on Churchill Rd near Second Street and onto Borrowdale Road respectively. Keep aware of your surroundings whilst approaching ALL traffic lights and STOP streets. There have been reports of being followed from the Airport and a tyre being slashed and then the perpetrators pulling in behind the vehicle offering to ‘help’ change the damaged wheel. During this time the victims being robbed of ‘baggage’ including valuables whilst they are distracted in sorting the problem out.. Where possible it may be wise to drive on as far as possible on the damaged wheel into the nearest service station or public parking area as to not be an isolated sitting target on the side of the road. This is happening in broad daylight hours so please be very careful and aware whilst dropping and collecting people from the Airport. It is wise to have nothing in view or lying on the seats or back window ledges. Whilst traveling between cities and towns do NOT stop at lay byes this is not reliably safe! With the long weekend coming up please be very vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times and take note of other vehicles traveling behind you, this may save you from becoming the next victim .

Borehole, swimming pool and gate motors are still prime targets and it seems to be mostly during load shedding hours in ALL areas. Information received that Police Stations are sending out patrols in their stated areas to try combat crime and we ask the public to try an assist where possible.’ Neighbourhood Watch’ is a big benefit but these groups need not only funds but the physical support of ALL living in the area not just a faithful few to carry this out. It takes man power and persons in the ‘field’ to make it worthwhile and affective and if every house occupant played a part however small it would not then be such a big mission and would be spaced out over a longer period of time. This is food for thought for us all. We all want to live in a crime free area for the safety of all concerned.

Let’s ALL fight this crime together - stay ALERT and SAFE !