While going about their normal daily lives, residents may not realise robbers are looking to steal their possessions.
Cloetesville police are warning locals to stay vigilant in hotspot areas to prevent making themselves easy targets. Police warn there has been an uptick in crimes taking place along the R44, R304, Bird Street, Lang Street, Last Street, Bergsipres Street and on the corner of Lang Street and Welgevonden Boulevard.
“The community must refrain from riding their bicycles alone in isolated areas,” police warn.
It seems the perpetrators modus operandi is for two or three people to approach and threaten unsuspecting victims with firearms or knives demanding items.
Cloetesville police warn residents to avoid having visible valuable items on them which perpetrators are keen to take and or grab.
According to a local community activist robberies occur daily and no-one is safe. Felicity Roland says everyone, from the elderly looking to buy a loaf of bread to residents heading out to work, are targets.
Roland says all kinds of crime is on the rise in the neighbourhood. This is why she rises early every morning to walk along main walkways in Cloetesville to help with visibility while learners head to their various schools.
Residents are urged to report any and all crime, as perpetrators could be linked to similar robberies elsewhere.
Police say locals need to engage with the local Community Policing Forum (CPF) members to help overcome and decrease crime. They believe that community involvement will help the police deliver a more effective service within the Cloetesville area.
Locals are welcome to contact Cloetesville police regarding any crime related incidents.
Those looking to get involve with the neighbourhood structures of the Cloetesville policing precinct can contact Andre van der Westhuizen on 074 887 3375 or the police directly:
• Station commander: Lt Col Monique Fortuin on 082 411 2911;
• Branch commander: Capt Rian Wiese on 082 778 9952;
• Vispol commander: Capt Sabelo Sinyeke on 082 443 6892;
• Communication: Warrant Officer Zenobia Sedeman on 082 411 2915; or
• Crime information management and analysis: Warrant Officer Tanya Wells-Allen on 082 522 3216.
