Table View and Milnerton ranked among the top 30 police stations for various crimes with the latest crime statistics showing a sharp spike.
The statistics were released by the Minister of Police, Gen Bheki Cele recently.
Between January and March 2023, common robbery in the Table View precinct jumped to56 reported cases compared to 47 the previous year.
Last week, Table View spokesperson Capt Adriana Chandler warned the public about hitchhikers, a new crime trend.
“In two separate incidents recently, at two different locations, a hitchhiker pretended to look for a lift, and when a driver stopped to offer the man a lift, he scouted the front of the vehicle for anything he can grab.” He then stole items and ran off.
The latest crime stats also shows a spike in theft out of or from a motor vehicle, with the Table View Police Station ranking 16th place. An increase of 30,8% was reported with 37 more cases reported than the previous year.
Other crimes
In the other serious crime category, 600 cases were reported, a 16,7% increase, ranking the Table View station in 14th place.
Both Table View and Milnerton precincts had a strong spike in commercial crime. Commercial crime is a type of white-collar crime that is committed for financial gain. It can take many forms, such as embezzlement, money laundering, insurance fraud, and identity theft.
The Table View precinct ranked 14th place with a 24,9% increase and Milnerton in 27th place with a 36,7% increase.
The Milnerton precinct saw a minor decline in shoplifting with only 90 cases reported, ranking the station in 17th place nationally. “
“The March stats for contact crime was presented and indicates an increase. Two females were killed and the matter is with the intelligence department,” the Milnerton Community Policing Forum (CPF) said at one of their recent meetings. “A new phenomenon of car jacking was reported to be taking place, motor bicycles being suspects, but police are still dealing with this to make sure of the facts.
“Phoenix was among the hot spots (65%), particularly along Democracy Way, and therefore 24hr patrol is needed to monitor the situation. House break-ins and other robberies were noted to be escalating in the area.”
After crime in the Table View and Milnerton area spiked, according to the latest crime statistics, police have urged the community to exercise caution.
Table View police spokesperson Capt Adriana Chandler says safety awareness starts at home.
“A high fence around the house with lockable gates is much safer than a high wall due to the advantage of the improved visibility it provides. The primary aim of the fence is to make access/intrusion difficult and to allow dogs to move freely around the house,” she says.
- Ensure that your gates are locked at all times and that the keys cannot be reached easily and are not lying around uncontrolled.
- Invest in security gates with sturdy locks in front of each outer door as well as burglar-proofing all windows.
- An alarm system, preferably connected to an armed response company, can act as an effective deterrent.
- In the rural environment, a siren/alarm on the roof that can be heard over a long distance and that can be activated by means of a switch/panic button in the house is recommended.
- A few switches/panic buttons in different rooms of the house should preferably be installed.
- An alarm must also have the capability to warn the occupants of any intrusion into the house.
- Security lights on the outside of the house improve the physical protection of a house, farm or smallholding.
- The lights must be directed away from the house and must allow the occupants to use the windows without being observed from outside.
- Be aware of possible shadows and blind spots.
- Report suspicious behaviour and information to the South African Police Service.
- Have the telephone installed where it is easily accessible from anywhere in the house.
- Inform your children not to give an indication that adult supervision is not available when they answer the phone.
