Don’t make yourself an easy target for robbers.
This warning comes from Cloetesville police after a recent increase in robberies at specific hotspots in Cloetesville and Ida’s Valley. These include the R44, R304, Bird and Lang streets.
“The community must refrain from riding their bicycles alone in isolated areas,” said Cloetesville police spokesperson, Warrant Office Zenobia Sedeman. “Perpetrators modus operandi is for two or three people to approach and threaten victims with firearms or knives. We warn residents to avoid having visible items which perpetrators are keen to take and or grab.”
Along with helping to prevent crimes police also urge community members to get involved with their local community policing forums (CPFs) to “help the police deliver a more effective service within the Cloetesville policing precinct”.
Community members looking to join the Cloetesville and Ida’s Valley CPF can contact chairperson André van der Westhuizen on 074 887 3375.
Alternatively contact station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Monique Fortuin on 082 411 2911; branch commander Captain Rian Wiese on 082 778 9952; Vispol commander Captain Sabelo Sinyeke on 082 443 6892; or the sector commanders for urban and rural, sergeants Oswill Solomons and Francois Swarts, on 079 894 0110.
Crimes can also be directly reported to these officers. “Residents are urged to report any crime, as perpetrators could be linked to similar robberies elsewhere,” Sedeman said.
“We believe the community’s involvement will help the police deliver a more effective service within the area.”
