Festive Season Crime
As is the case every year, the Festive Season and the summer holiday period brings with it an increase in crime. Residents need to be on high alert in respect of housebreakings, house robberies and car jackings in Pinelands, Epping and Thornton. Take note of the safety tips conveyed to you through the monthly Bulletin throughout the year and take every precaution to protect yourselves and your property from becoming the target of criminals. Neighbours need to keep an eye on one another’s property, particularly if one or the other is away. If you are away during the festive season, inform SAPS so that we can conduct regular patrols.

Drawing Cash From Banks
You are advised to be especially careful when drawing large sums of money from a bank, either to pay wages to your staff or for some other reason. It has come to the attention of the police that a syndicate is operating in the Metropole. They follow you from the bank, using different cars so as not to arouse suspicion. You need to keep a lookout for cars tailing you. Better still, ask the police for assistance; they will be only too willing to accompany you to your home or your place of work.

Fraudsters

The public should be on the lookout for the following fraudsters: a coloured male and a coloured female (they operate independently) who knock on doors where the domestic worker is alone at home. The fraudster then informs the domestic worker that he/she is from an Interior Decorating company and that they are there to do a quote for work the owner wants to have done. The suspects go through the house and steal small items like jewellery, money, credit cards and cell phones, etc.The public should inform their children and domestic worker not to let these people into their houses or onto their premises and must rather phone either the owner or Pinelands SAPS for assistance.
Insp v d Merwe

Nokia Cell Phone Scam

Police received the following information from a reliable, concerned member of the public:
“This morning I received an sms: Congratulations!! Your no. was among the lucky winners on the NOKIA YEARLY PROMOTION. You won R95,000. Ticket no. 0166P. Call Williams Benson on 083 591 2085 for your cash prize.”
When she phoned the number, he answered. He asked for her ID number and account details, both of which she refused to give him. He had a foreign accent which sounded Argentinean. She told him that if it were true he could post her the cheque. He then gave her his email and fax addresses: fax: 086 64 02776
email: email_destiny@yahoo.ca
The lady phoned the Nokia helpline and they know nothing about a lucky ticket draw or yearly promotion. Please do not respond to messages of this nature. They are too good to be true and are usually fraudulent.

Name of Suspect: Mathemba Sosanti
Age: 18 years
Suspect is a black male.
If you have any information please contact the detective branch
INSP. HANEKOM
TEL: 021 506 2118
PINELANDS CAS. 128/08/2008

• Possession of stolen goods 9
• Shoplifting 8
• Theft (general) 25
• Housebreaking (residential) 2
• Robbery Common 1
• Theft of motor vehicle 2
• Theft out of motor vehicle 1
• Assault GBH 2
• Assault Common 3
• Fraud 1
• Warrant of arrest 3
• Drunken driving 2
• Trespassing 3
• Drug related crimes 8
• Metro rail offences 76
• Sexual Assault 1

• Robbery 5
• Assault GBH 1
• Assault Common 12
• Burglary (Business) 7
• Burglary (Residential) 4
• Theft out of motor vehicle 1
• Theft 31
• Drug related crimes 40
• Malicious damage to property 2
• Shoplifting 28