The Bothasig Community Policing Forum (CPF) said this week that burglaries were on the rise in Bothasig, Edgemead and surrounding areas.
CPF chair Mario Borchards said recent incidents showed a concerning increase in this type of crime and shared some valuable safety tips. “Criminals are targeting homes at vulnerable times, both during the day and at night. Gas cylinders are also increasingly being targeted, with several reports of cylinders being stolen from outside properties.”
The CPF urged residents to be extra-alert and careful.
Safety tips
- Lock all doors and windows, even when you are at home;
- Ensure that alarm systems and CCTV are installed and activated;
- Keep perimeter and outdoor lights on at night;
- Secure all access points – side gates, garages, and domestic entrances – and not just the main house;
- Avoid leaving valuables visible from outside;
- Secure gas cylinders, garden tools, bicycles and other outdoor items out of sight or lock them securely in place, as these are increasingly being targeted;
- Verify the identity of anyone requesting entry, including meter readers, delivery personnel, and other visitors;
- Keep travel plans private, and ask someone trusted to house-sit;
- Watch for objects left on your gate or pavement; some burglars use these to mark a target;
- Remove anything suspicious;
- If a break-in occurs while you are home, do not confront the intruder. Move to a safe area and contact your armed-response company or police immediately.
Borchards said residents need to be proactive about their security and should report suspicious activity immediately to the local police station on 021 559 9415 or 10111, or the City of Cape Town‘s Law Enforcement at 021 480 7700. He said residents must work together with police, community-safety structures such as the CPF and neighbourhood watches as well as armed response companies. Visible, active communities deter crime, he said.
“Bothasig police and the CPF continue to work closely together in response to this trend, and we thank our police members for their ongoing dedication and quick response to community reports. This partnership between residents, the CPF, neighbourhood watches, armed response companies and the police remains one of our greatest strengths in keeping Bothasig police precinct safe.”
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