Safety/Security

Please read the safety & security tips as well as the links under Safety/Security on the right. The downloads are PDF files which can be downloaded and printed to keep at hand.

WHAT DID I DO WITH THOSE KEYS? On returning home, and in your rush to unpack your car and attend to other chores, you leave your house and/or car keys in reach and in full view of a window. Criminals are fully aware of this and are very adept at "hooking" the keys out of windows. When you need to lock up for the night, you assume you've temporarily misplaced the keys and use your spares. The thieves return while you're asleep, quietly unlock your house, pack everything they want into your car, and disappear before you're aware of any problem. This type of incident is occurring on the Bluff, so be aware.

Criminal vs Community

Be sure to read this article by Mandy du Plessis of Walk For Peace and the Berea CPF.

AVOID, AVOID & AVOID

The best way to survive an attack is to avoid one. There are three reasons why people become victims of violent crimes:

  1. Lack of awareness - know where you are and who is around you at all times.
  2. Body language - don't look distracted, keep your head up and stay alert.
  3. Wrong time & place - don't tempt fate. Criminals lurk where they are not seen.
From Venice Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter, Autumn 2007

Cameras

A camera can prove to be a very useful tool. If someone is loitering around your area without reason, openly take a photograph of him/her. This usually gives the person a huge fright if he/she is up to no good. In the event of there being a break-in, you have a photograph to assist the police as concerns the tracing of a possible witness or suspect. There is no invasion of privacy, as taking photographs in any public place is permissible.

Five Golden Rules

There are five basic and general rules which can be applied to any and almost every situation, whether on foot, at home, or in a vehicle. Always use common sense, and admint there is danger out there. Admit to yourself that you could become a victim.

  1. Always be alert. Day dreaming unfortunately is not an option. Make it your business to be aware of your environment and your surroundings. Look for anything that appears unusual and out of place - do not be caught by surprise!
  2. Use your eyes as an information base. Observation of a situation is very important. If you identify a potentially dangerous situation from afar, then you will have time to take steps to prevent calamity and look for an escape route.
  3. Evaluate a situation. This will help you determine your actions in advance. It may be a matter of life and death. Ensure that you weigh up the options and make the right decision.
  4. Position yourself and draw attention to yourself. If possible, you should try and escape when threatened. Keep a clear head. If it is not possible to escape, scream, make a noise or hoot for help. Drawingattention to yourself will often scare off an attacker.
  5. Know where there are safe havens in your area. Safe havens are places such as police stations, hospitals, shopping malls or public places where there are a lot of people moving around.

From FIGHT BACK! by Delia Turner

FIGHT BACK! Crime prevention measures for crime-weary South Africans, by Delia Turner, sponsored by Chubb, is available from most book stores and is recommended reading for all residents. It is full of very interesting and practical tips on crime prevention as well as what to do in a dangerous situation.

Know The Law

10111 Pranksters Endanger Others. Read more. 

Fireworks. People who continue to irresponsibly set off or trade in fireworks could find themselves at odds with the law. Read more.

Emergency Calls: 112, 147, 082-911

In an attempted hijacking, the victim called the 112 emergency number from his cell-phone and received an unsatisfactory response.....

From a report which appeared in the Sunday Tribune on December 30, 2007.....

Vodacom spokeswoman Dot Field said 112 was a global emergency number that puts callers through to the nearest government emergency service anywhere in the world.

"The standard of service is dependent on the particular centre the call gets put through to. We encourage subscribers to rather use our 147 service, where the operator stays on the line until you get assistance, or in the case of a medical emergency, 082 911 which is a service in partnership with Netcare."

Downloads

Protect Your Family and Property

Hijacking Awareness Guide

For more crime awareness tips, tune in to Crimewatch on East Coast Radio at 09:20 every Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
 






© 2012 Bluff CPF