If you would like to play a part in serving the communities of Pinelands or Thornton, the Community Sector Patrollers would love to have you on board.

If you are interested please contact the Sector Controller at 021 531 7182

All we require of you is a minimum of two hours of your time every two months. You can either bring a partner or you can be teamed up with another patroller. You will have the use of a two-way radio to keep in contact with other patrollers and police, who patrol with us.

Crime : Break-ins through the roof: Inspector Louis Waters reported that these had peaked from October to December 2008 and 2009, mainly round Pinelands Station. He appealed for more observers from Sector Patrols.

Social crime prevention in schools : Police regularly visit schools to talk about and investigate drugs and assaults and carry out searches using sniffer dogs. Pupils are warned that conviction for a drug offence means a criminal record for life.

Sector Patrols : Sally Borchert, Chairman of Pinelands Neighbourhood Watch, stressed that a 2-hour stint every 5 weeks should be part of everyone’s community duty. Patrols would now take place between 3 and 6 a.m. when roof break-ins occurred. Day-time patrols would suit retired people; students could patrol on bicycles. Patrollers should not confront suspicious characters but call the police giving full details of cars, clothing, etc

Safety measures : Bottle tops, cans, etc near the house could be thieves’ signs. Be aware of people nearby. Well-dressed thieves targeted cellphones and watches. Even first-class carriages on trains were unsafe. Overgrown trees should be trimmed, gates locked, windows closed, curtains dawn, house numbers clearly displayed. Outside lights and a time switch deterred thieves. Thieves greased burglar bars so children could wriggle through. Study the Police Bulletin for safety tips.

Child trafficking : It had been reported that child-minders had been offered large sums of money to sell the children in their care. Latch-key children were particularly vulnerable and parents should arrange for a safe house for their children.

Advanced Conflict Training : Kelee Arrowsmith said people should take responsibility for their own safety. As well as burglar bars and alarms, people needed a plan on how to deal with a burglar in the house by getting some training and working with the police.

Electric fencing : Penny Macready stressed that this had to be linked to a security organisation which was alerted by the warning buzz which preceded shocking the intruder. The cost of installing fencing could be added to the bond. Avoid the cheap option. Choose a battery-operated back-up system. Foliage must be kept away from the fencing. Pets were safe, as cats sensed the electricity and kept away.

Pinelands CID/SRA : Taffy Roberts said that a Special Rating Area (SRA), the successor to the Community Improvement District (CID), dealt mainly with crime and grime. The new bye-law permitted a SRA to set up a Section 21 company and receive a surcharge of x cents in the rand, not a percentage of the rates, though it was impossible say how much extra Pinelanders would have to pay. By a show of hands the overwhelming majority at the meeting indicated their support for a SRA. A Special Meeting would be advertised in the press for Pinelanders to decide on a SRA which needed the support of 50% + 1 of the residents. The indigent unable to pay an increase in rates would have to submit to a means test. All objections would have to be taken into account.

Jammie Shuttle : Sharon Timlin pointed out the inadequacy of public transport in Pinelands, so students found difficulty in getting to UCT, many being forced to walk which was potentially dangerous. The Jammie bus to the Sunrise hostel was only temporary and only for hostel students. The best option was a Park and Ride system at Pinelands Station or the Oval. Thornton and Pinelands both need better public transport.
Public Transport : Jon Cayzer, deputising for the MEC.Transport, Robin Carlisle, said that the Minister was to meet UCT about a Park and Ride. People working shifts in hospitals also had transport problems. Safe, reliable and regular taxis would be well patronised. Taxis breaking the law were being confiscated. Alderman Brian Watkyns advised ending licences allowing taxis to ply within a certain radius instead of a specific route.

Alternative to Jammie Shuttle : John Crittien said UCT could not meet the huge demand for a Jammie Shuttle from all areas, so it had contracted with taxi services to provide a safe reliable service free to students with IDs, so no money changed hands. Such a service would need to be negotiated with existing taxi services. Robin Carlisle was willing to mediate. A Park and Ride system benefiting Pinelands and neighbouring suburbs was the preferred option of the meeting.

The month of February 2010 was
business as usual for SAPS Pinelands.

Crimes that stood out were Residential Burglaries in the Pinelands and Thornton areas and theft of motor vehicles in Pinelands. Vehicles taken were, amongst others, VWs, Toyotas and Hilux bakkies.
The Giant Sweets parking area in Epping Industria has always been a concern regarding theft of motor vehicles. Over the festive season the management of Giant Sweets employed additional security officers to patrol the parking area. Now the situation is back to normal, without the extra security officers, and vehicles are again being stolen there.

Epping Informal Market
Another shocking tendency is the increase in assaults and robberies at the Informal Market opposite the Cape Town Market in Gunners Circle Epping for the period 2009-04-01 to 2010-02-01. Reported cases range from fights amongst friends, to employees and stall owners being harassed and robbed. The reason for this is that there is a huge influx of people to that specific point. However, amongst your normal buyers, business people and vendors, one also finds people loitering and just hanging around. The Epping CID has permanently employed Law Enforcement officers whose duties include the enforcing of by-laws. The Community Police Forum and SAPS Pinelands have also been in discussion with Councillor Brian Watkyns and Health Enforcement officers concerning the crime situation and health hazards at the Informal Market.

Loitering in Thornton
The loitering situation in Cypress Road Thornton, in front of Chris and Harry Supermarket, is also a concern for the residents, and Epping CID has been asked to attend to this. These loiterers call themselves “work -seekers” but they sit and make a mess in the park, lie on the grass and, given that there are no ablution facilities, they pose a health problem. Residents are requested not to encourage these individuals because, if one looks at it realistically, if that “work-seeker” does not get a job for the day and he has nothing, the temptation is there to break into the houses of those who have, or to rob persons coming from work. This is what a criminal calls “survival” but to the detriment of the victim.

Theft from open windows
In the Pinelands area there is a tendency on the part of home owners to open the windows of their dwellings and to leave exposed laptops, cell phones and jewellery on a table next to the window, within sight and reach of a perpetrator who only has to put his/her hand through the window to take the articles on the table. Please be more alert.

Help the Police when reporting crimes
Insurance assessors are doing more in-depth investigations into insurance claims to prevent “fraudulent claims”. People get robbed of their cell phones at gunpoint or knifepoint, yet when the investigating officers require a description of the perpetrator the complainant cannot remember anything. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR SAPS TO INVESTIGATE AND SOLVE SUCH A CASE. It also begs the question: “Did such a robbery in fact take place?” These are all factors that assessors of insurance companies take into account when investigating claims.

Thefts out of motor vehicles
Thefts out of motor vehicles are reported where expensive items like laptops, huge amounts of money, GPS, clothing and eyewear accessories were stolen, but then the complainant fixes the car’s window (so no fingerprints can be lifted), and the case gets reported a day or even two days later! SAPS need to visit the crime scene and look at the physical evidence on the scene. They need to determine whether the vehicle was in fact broken into in Forest Drive or whether perhaps the incident occurred elsewhere (the actual crime scene where evidence can be collected) but it is more convenient for the complainant to report that it happened locally. We as SAPS need to make arrests, prepare a case properly so that it is prosecutable and, with the assistance of the State Prosecutor, get a conviction.

WE NEED YOUR FULL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT IN ORDER FOR SAPS PINELANDS TO SERVE YOU, THE COMMUNITY, EFFECTIVELY.

Theft of/out of/from motor vehicles

In the light of the recent number of theft of and out of motor vehicles in Pinelands, residents are urged to be aware of any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area. The current hotspots are between Morningside, Ndabeni, Forest Drive and the Old Mutual. Most of the incidents have occurred at night.

Residents are urged to be vigilant when leaving their vehicles parked, especially when parked outside a residence. It is, however, always advisable to lock the car in the garage and have some form of gear or steering lock, immobiliser, alarm system and tracking device fitted to the car. Most importantly, never leave any belongings or assets in the car especially when parked overnight. Never park the vehicle in quiet or abandoned areas where it will be more noticeable. The perpetrators can tow the car away from the original spot to another to avoid the car engine being started up whilst being stolen, which is often the case. Mag wheels are also being stolen from vehicles parked in driveways of residents.

The area that is currently targeted during night time is near the Pinelands North Primary School (Red School), Victory Avenue and vicinity. If you see any suspicious activities, persons or vehicles do not hesitate to call Pinelands Saps at Tel. no. (021) 506 2022. Insp. L Waters

Suspicious Vehicle

Unidentified body

Child Trafficking

Nokia Cell Phone Scam

Warning to Truck Drivers Pinelands SAPS is warning truck drivers who tend to use Gunners Circle, Epping as alternative parking space instead of the designated area for parking trucks namely, the Engen Truck Stop. This has an impact on the increase in theft from motor vehicles as cases of stolen batteries, diesel and sails increases. In order to prevent crime effectively, it is suggested that truck drivers refrain from using non-designated parking areas. Cst Madonci, Pinelands SAPS Tel: (021) 506-2022

A few tips to avoid becoming a victim of crime

Building Blocks

Procedure to follow when reporting stolen/lost/damaged cellphones:

Anyone with information about this person,
known as Sidney Swarts, (aka Colby), is asked to contact:
Insp Fortune: 021 506 2142 083 758 5964
pinelands-cid@saps.org.za

• Possession of stolen goods 5
• Shoplifting 7
• Burglary Business 5
• Robbery Common 3
• Common Theft 8
• Theft out of motor vehicle 2
• Theft of Motor Vehicle 1
• Reckless and negligent driving 9
• Fraud 3
• Drunken driving 9
• Trespassing 1
• Drug related crimes 13
• Sexual Assault 1
• Assault 5
• Aggravated Robbery 5
• Attempted Murder 2
• Crimen Injuria 2
• Warrant of Arrest 10