Parow police have intensified visibility over weekends, from
05:00 on Fridays until 05:00 on Sundays.
After a joint operation between the South African Police
Service (SAPS), Law Enforcement, the Voortrekker Road Corridor Improvement
District (VRCID), neighbourhood watches and ward 26 councillor, Franchesca
Walker, last month, crime is still a factor in Parow. The aim of the operation
was to stabilise and all forms of crime in the Parow CBD area. This involved
high visibility of police in and around the Parow train station, Parow Valley
taxi rank and Voortrekker Road. Police also carried out search-and-seizures at
drug houses to prevent drug activities.
According to a Parow resident, the drugs and prostitution
have worsened in the area.
“I can’t sleep anymore because of all the prostitution and
drug addicts making a noise,” she says.
According to the resident, only one patrol van from the
police ussually comes to search them, but they became very aggressive towards
the officers. She says often these people do not even stay in Parow, but they
come and make their business there.
Parow police spokesperson, Captain Kevin Williams, says
Parow police are focusing on robbery, business robbery and theft out of motor
vehicles. Williams urges residents to adhere to the following safety tips to
prevent theft out of motor vehicles:
-Remove all valuable items from vehicles.
-Do not lock your vehicle while walking away from the car,
but while standing at the vehicle.
-Check if doors are properly locked before leaving the
vehicle.
Williams says Parow has experienced a spike in commercial
crime, especially fraud. He says consumers who buy cars or rent property via
the internet need to be vigilant and residents are advised to do the following:
-Do not to buy a car or rent property without checking the
seller’s internet profile.
-Check if the business is registered with a legitimate bank
account.
-For safety, go to the bank of the seller and verify that
the account has been operating for at least 18 months.
-Ask for proof of address and make contact with the seller
at the residence, not at a food court or other place of meeting.
-Preferably do not buy anything on the internet at all.
-Do not deposit hard cash into the account of an unknown
person.
-Rather buy a car from a reputable car dealer and rent
property from an estate or renting agent.
Williams says assault, common assault and grievous bodily
harm (GBH) need to be addressed. “We cannot effectively enforce these crimes
because we only find out about it when victims lay criminal charges,” says
Williams.
According to Williams, alcohol and drug dependency is one of
the main factors for violence and therefore drinking alcohol in moderation is
key.
There has also been an increase in sexual crimes which
mainly occur indoors or at secluded places.
“Women are advised not to walk alone at night, don’t go
anywhere with strangers, don’t hitchhike alone at night, and don’t accept
alcoholic beverages from strangers at a pub or at a party.”
Williams says if you have been raped, do not wash yourself,
but report the incident immediately at your nearest police station in order to
retrieve DNA samples.
What is your opinion on this article? Let us know at
briewe@tygerburger.co.za.
