• Theft out of motor vehicle in Weaver Grove reported on 27 May. Window broken of Nissan bakkie.  Laptop, camera and radio stolen.
• Theft of motor vehicle in Cambridge reported on 28 May. Visitor’s Mazda stolen – parked in the street.
• Assault on corner of Cambridge and Mercury reported on 29 May. Victim was forced off the road in his Golf by suspects.  They assaulted him then drove off.

• Armed robbery in Sunlight reported on 26 May. Victim stopped at driveway, a car behind passed them, then turned and came back and stopped opposite the driveway. 4 armed suspects got out and held her up.  They took her handbag with keys, ID and cellphone.
• Housebreaking and theft in Cloudy reported on 26 May. Sliding door of flat forced open with a spade. Hifi and clothing taken. Hifi was recovered.
• Attempted theft in Cloudy on 26 May. Neighboring client phoned in. 2 suspects tried to steal a bicycle from the Wendyhouse.
• Other theft in Sharplines in Main Rd reported on 28 May. A couple came into the salon.  They stole 2 cellphones from the table and ran off.

Beware: If you walk out of Durban International Airport carrying a laptop you have a good chance of being robbed.

The robbers watch while you hire a car and rob you when you park at a shopping centre. The Workshop, Musgrave, Gateway and ICC are hotspots.

These criminals target rented Hyundai as they easy to unlock without damaging the lock. Once in the car they open the boot.

They somehow know there is a laptop in the boot and that you have not taken it with you.

Many victims have reported that they did not open the boot of the car after leaving the airport so there was no way the criminals could just be targeting random rented cars, they are specifically looking for laptops! All the dots when added up indicate that they spot you at the airport.

The only part I cannot work out is how they know where you are going without following you...Do they have spotters at the shopping centre who are informed you have a laptop or do they attach a magnetic tracking device to your car at the car hire?

All the car rental companies have been targeted. The car rental companies have been aware of this problem for months and have tried everything to stop this theft but have failed.

They give me the assurance that they warn their customers not to leave valuables in the car. These criminals will only steal your laptop and will not steal other valuables. They have been known to even leave handbags and shopping bags behind.

Dear Resident

I’m sure it has become abundantly clear to you as a resident of the Ekurhuleni Metro that service delivery, in almost all areas, is on the brink of collapse, and while the Metro sees fit to pay Patrick Flusk R 4 million for the remainder of his contract, when he was fired for being incompetent and corrupt, we as the resident have to sit without services while our rates are used to pay for the Metro’s ongoing mistakes.

The level of arrogance and incompetence by this Metro is reaching staggering proportions, and we the ratepayer, have less and less input into how our towns and city’s are run. Well we need to take back that power, and our power doesn’t lie in the political party we vote for, our vote will never be sufficient to remove the ANC from government, our power lies in our pocket, we have to vote with our pocket and the way we do that is by withholding our rates from council until they start running our towns and city’s in a responsible, ethical and honest way.

Please attend this important public meeting so that we may have a say in how our towns and city’s are run.

DATE : Wednesday, 3^rd June, 2009

TIME : 18:30

VENUE : Bonaero Park Primary School

Cnr Aldergrove and Arlanda Road

Bonaero Park

Kempton Park

GUEST SPEAKER : Jaap Kelder – National Taxpayers Union

FOR INFORMATION : Contact Nicole Barlow – (076) 543 3455

IN THIS CASE YOUR VOTE REALLY COUNTS

• Housebreaking and theft in Browning reported on 21 May. Safety gate and front door forced open.  Laptop, cash, cameras and TV stolen.TV was found on the property.
• Domestic violence in Blyde reported on 22 May. Couple had a fight and he hit her.
• Domestic violence in Bayley reported on 19 May. Client and son were arguing and it got out of hand.
• Attempted theft of motor vehicle in Cambridge reported on 22 May. Nissan Sentra was parked outside.  When owner went out he found door lock and ignition damaged.
• Robbery at Pick 'n Pay Sheridan Center reported on 22 May. While he was in the shop, 2 Black men cornered him and after they passed he found his wallet with cash was missing.
• Theft of motor vehicle in Bayley reported on 22 May. Honda Ballade parked in front of garage stolen.
• Theft out of motor vehicle in Cambridge reported on 23 May. Small window broken on Nissan Sentra.  Radio stolen.
• Attempted Other theft in Rainbow reported on 23 May. Suspects went to the back braai area and tried to steal 3 bicycles, but they were left in the front yard.
• Other theft in Astro Gardens reported on 23 May. Suspects entered the back of the premises and went in through open sliding door and stole a laptop.
• Dog poisoning in Chaucer reported on 24 May. Dogs poisoned.

• Other theft reported in Orange on 20 May. Gate motor stolen.

Operation SHIVER, conducted by SAPS and EMPD with assistance from the CSF on the evening of 16 May in Actonville and Benoni, was a huge success. Rex Hotel, Moon, Bimbos, Basils and Kimbolton/Kempston were raided. 37 taxis were impounded, 2 unroadworthy vehicles were written off, 6 drunk drivers and 65 foreign nationals were arrested. Several traffic fines were also levied in a roadblock in Styx Road. Congratulations to all involved on a job well done!

• Housebreaking and theft in Reitz reported on 14 May. Back door and safety gate forced open.  TV stolen but was found in a bag at the back of the premises.

• Attempted housebreaking in Fairbridge reported on 13 May. Suspects tried to break in through garage.  Domestic worker spotted them and they fled.

• Housebreaking and theft in Cambridge St reported on 11 May. Lounge window forced open to gain access but nothing appears to be missing.
• Housebreaking and theft in Rodos Palace reported on 11 May. Suspects climbed onto the wall and the burglar bars were removed from top floor living room window.  TV stolen.

CHECK LIST – DRIVERS LICENCE

Visual Check

• Compare the photograph on the Drivers license with the actual person.

• Check the thickness of Drivers License.

• Check the rectangular indent on reverse side, above the fingerprint.

• Check that the corners of the Drivers License and edges of the lamination are smooth and round.

• Compare the signature on Drivers License with signature on available documentation.

Use of Forge Detector

• Check for the Protea-watermarks above thumb print.

• Check the UV colouring of Proteas on reverse side.

• Check that the security lines are running through the photograph.

• Check the print on pages 1 & 4 for inconsistencies in font, broken lettering or print density.

• Check chevron patterns, starting with bold red on the left-hand side fading towards the right-hand side.

CHECK LIST – ID DOCUMENTS

Visual Check

• Compare the photograph in the ID document with the actual person.

• Compare the ID photo with the photo of the Drivers License.

• Check the 11^th and 12^th digits of the ID number for citizenship:

08: South African or

18: Non South African

• Compare with detail underneath barcode

Check digits 7 – 10 of the ID number (indicating the sex: Male or female):

1 – 4999: Female

5000 + : Male

• Check alignment of words and letters in horizontal and vertical aspects.

Use of Forge Detector

• Check the print on pages 1 and 4 for inconsistencies in font, broken lettering or print density.

• Check for glue marks around the edges of the photograph.

• In the event of photograph being lifted, verify the date of birth under the photograph with the ID number.

• Check for signs of damage to background printing or paper.

• Check for triangular watermarks on every page.

Please always remember to ask for a Reference number when reporting a crime to SAPS, as well as when reporting accidents etc. to EMPD. Whenever there are incidents, a reference number must be given as proof that the incident was reported; and this reference number is used in all communication handled in connection with the incident until a case number or accident report number is given. If you do not receive this number and there is no response to your report, you have no leg to stand on, as they will not be able to trace your call; and they can even deny that you had ever called at all. It could be vital in cases where lives or goods have been lost due to the lack of service/response by authorities, to bring to justice the people who have neglected these duties. Although the reference number should be sufficient, also try to get the person’s name you spoke to, as well as the time. The more info you have, the better your chances of having the required response to your emergency.  This reference number, however, should not be confused with a case number or accident report number, which is given after the crime has occurred or accident has happened etc. There have been a few incidents where we have tried to solve issues of non service, but due to no reference numbers being given, it has led to unresolved issues which could have been sorted out quickly. 

Thanks and regards,
Clive Patterson
Head: CSF PR and Media
Benoni Community Safety Forum