Pamphlet Distribution

Was nice to see the active efforts in our precinct to distribute pamphlets.  Keep up the good work everyone!

Possible Child Abduction Attempt at Brightwater Commons

Hi all,

Below is an email that found its way to me from Nikki of RAC.  Please read.

N

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Hi,


I was wondering if you could help. My husband and I suspect that our little girl (who is now 2 years and 10 months) was being watched for a possible abduction on Saturday afternoon (5th of Feb) at the Brightwater Commons.

I would like to give you all the details and then if possible if you could forward this to everyone in the RAC committees to get as many parents informed of how easily this could happen.

THE DETAILS:

We were sitting in the promotional area at the Brightwater Commons where kiddies' scooters were available for hire within the small area under the roof. We were watching our daughter with the other kids racing around the area, which was that day enclosed with benches for parents to sit on. There were quite a few kids and parents within the area.

We did not notice the two Indian men sitting on the next bench to our left until we noticed our daughter keep looking at them as she made her way around the circle. We noticed one of the men waving and smiling at her. She was very aware of them and as they seem to make eye contact with her every time she came around. Both my husband and I became weary right away and started to watch the men quite closely.

My husband noticed that one of the men had taken out a small digital camera and had placed the camera low on his lap pointing the lens at my daughter and he seemed to follow her with the camera as she came past again. Both my husband and I stared at the two men quite obviously and he put the camera away.

A few minutes later (2-3 minute) an Indian couple (seemly unrelated to the two men) approached us and asked us about our daughter. Things like how old she was and said how cute she was. They proceeded to tell us the reason for all the questions was that they had an 18 month old daughter and were wondering if their daughter could use the scooters as well. A very strange question for a parent because all mothers and fathers know if their child was capable of any activity or not. That and they did not have a child with them.

What made it even more suspicious was where they stood in relation to trying to talk to us.

They had positioned themselves directly behind us, while we were sitting on the bench, forcing me to turn all the way around to look at them. There was ample space to stand next to the bench for a more polite conversation.

My husband just ignored them as he was very uneasy about everything and stood up to watch our daughter and the men in a more aggressive manner. As soon as he did the couple talking to me said thanks and walked away and the two men next to us got up and walked away.

We really do suspect that this was an attempt to distract us. There are many exits and the flea market stalls are not even 5 meters behind us where there was ample place to hide and change her to make her unrecognizable in a short space of time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TWO MEN

1) the one was between the ages of 35-40. He was slightly balding with shortly cut hair. Slightly over weight around the midriff. Deeply set eyes with an overhanging brow.
2) The second was no older than 35 and had a short back and side but a longer cut hair / long fringe. Quite a friendly face and thinner build to the other. The camera he carried was a small digital camera silver. Very similar looking to the Sony cyber shot.  http://www.techgadgets.in/digital-cameras/2007/29/sony-cyber-shot-s730-digital-camera-introduced-in-europe/

http://www.ubergizmo.com/photos/2007/1/new-sony-cybershot.jpg

This has really shaken my husband and me up. If this was an attempt and we had not paid attention, the last few days may have turned out very different.

The thought of my daughter being abducted and ending up in some child pornography ring makes me sick to my stomach. And I just want to make as may people aware of the methods that these people may use to distract you or make your child "available" to them to take. We really did a false sense of security, not that we didn't watch our daughter at all times, but we did not even think to suspect anyone at that time.

Nikki Griffiths

Website: www.rac.org.za

From The eblockwatch team - ROBINDALE - Crime Alert - Street Corner Beggars, Cor Boundary & Bram Fischer

Date Reported: 2011-02-17 11:10:12


Incident Date: 2011-02-17 08:00:00

Reported By: adri

Type Crime Alert

Area: GAUTENG, RANDBURG, ROBINDALE

Description:

The "blind" beggars on street corners are exploited by syndicates who would monitor and guard the beggars. They will loiter some distance away from the beggars and be in contact with the beggar via cell phone. These syndicates also serve to be lookouts for criminals in neighborhoods and should not be allowed to operate as this constitutes loitering. It is the reponsibility of Metro poloice to remove these criminals from our doorsteps. Please do not support crime by enabling criminals access to our neighborhoods.

Crime Escalating - Message from Mulbarton Street

Hi all,

This is from Debbie who is street captain of Mulbarton Street in Robin Hills.  Very very good advice indeed.

Rgds,
Norwin

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Hi residents

We have had an increase in violent crimes this last week. Linden is one of the sectors that were affected as I am sure you saw in “The Randburg Sun”, but our sector alone has had 2 armed robberies, 1 attempted hi-jacking and an assault on an elderly lady in the last week!!! This is apart from house breaking and theft out of motor vehicles.

We were told in no uncertain terms at yesterday’s ECCF meeting that something has to be done! We have now been given a second vehicle in all sectors and they are in radio contact, however it is up to the community to also take responsibility for their safety.

It has become apparent that residents are complacent and are:

a. Not arming their alarms;
b. Not checking that their alarms are working;
c. Leaving laptops, bags etc visible in their vehicles;
d. Waiting in their vehicles on pavements;
e. Leaving front gates, doors and security gates open!!!!!!!

In the times we live in, it is unacceptable and unfair to expect the police to be everywhere at once, hence our huge drive of getting people onto the database. Please, could I urge you to speak to your neighbours, make them aware of the sector vehicle and the protocol and to get their names onto our database.

The message of Sector Policing needs to reach EVERYONE – so speak to your colleagues, family and friends! They can phone their nearest police station, give them their physical address and get the Sector vehicle number that applies to them.

If you have elderly neighbours, please speak to them about security – they are soft targets!!

Thanks to everyone who has sent through information and for those people who have been aware of what’s going on in their area and contacted the Sector vehicle!

Take care,
Debbie

Safety hints from SAPS Webpages compliments eBlockwatch

Safety Awareness in a Vehicle

 

• Ensure that your vehicle is in a good condition when you plan to go on a journey.
• Ensure that the fuel tank of your vehicle always has sufficient fuel.
• Always lock your vehicles doors and keep the windows closed.
• Do not leave your vehicle unlocked, even if you think you will be away for only a minute.
• Avoid to stop at remote places.
• Park your vehicle in places that are well lit.
• If a stranger wants to talk to you while in your vehicle, do not open the window wide -only 5 cm is enough to have a discussion.
• If something seems suspicious, do not talk to strangers, rather be rude and drive away.
• Limit your trips at night or at least take someone along with you.
• Vary the route you travel to work and back, if this is possible.
• If approached by a stranger while in your car, drive off if possible or press your hooter to attract attention.
• If strangers loiter near or at your driveway, rather drive past. If they loiter for a long time, report it to your nearest police station.
• Car jackers may stage a minor accident so they can approach your car.
• If your car is bumped from behind and you do not feel comfortable with the individual(s) involved in the situation, drive to the nearest police station for help.
• Do not reach for your purse or valuables. Leave everything behind if forced from the car.
• Your life is more valuable than your possessions.
• Do not resist, especially if the thief has a weapon.
• Give up your vehicle with no questions asked and move away.
• A lift club limits the risk of becoming a victim of crime.
• Do not give strangers a lift.
• A gear lock is an affordable and a very effective anti-theft device.
• If possible, put up a mirror against the front wall of your garage to see if someone is following you into the garage.
• Do not open your garage doors before your gates are closed.

 

Safety Awareness When Parking/Driving Your Vehicle

 

• Avoid parking your motor vehicle where there are no security officers guarding other cars.
• Do not leave your firearm in the motor vehicle's glove compartment (cubbyhole) or anywhere in the vehicle when you park the vehicle (this is against the law!).
• Make sure that all the doors and windows are properly locked when you park your car.
• Valuable items like a laptop and camera should be put in the boot of your car.
• Be aware of people coming to you and informing you that you have a flat tire, the intention can be to steal items that they see inside the car or rob your car.
• Always close your windows when driving in the city centre.
• Do not open your windows for hawkers along the road and at the robots.
• Keep the doors locked and windows closed at all times.
• Do not use a cellular phone unless you have a hands-free kit.
• Lock your valuables in the cars boot before departure.
• At night, park in well-lit areas.
• If in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advice.
• Practice the same prevention skills you apply in parking lots or garages at home.
• Become familiar with your route before you start the trip.
• Get a map of the route and study it.
• Store luggage in the cars boot where it is out of sight.
• Do not leave your goods/valuable items visible in the car.
• Do not leave your handbag/briefcase visible in the car.
• Do not leave your keys in the ignition.
• Always lock the doors and close the windows when getting out of the car.
• Remove detachable radios and the radio's face when getting out of the car.
• Try to fit an alarm and/or anti-theft device in your car.
• Have your keys ready in your hand as you approach your car, especially if they are difficult to find in your handbag.
• Parking lots with a parking attendant or supervision/ someone patrolling are best, otherwise try to park in locations that are well lit and/or well populated and not crowded by bushes or buildings where offenders might hide.

Road Safety: Aggressive Driving Behaviour 

 

The followings aspects might trigger aggressive behaviour:

• Following too close to the vehicle in front.
• Passing vehicles on the right.
• Cutting in and out of traffic and failing to signal while engaging in multiple lane changes.
• Crossing safety markings while merging onto ramps.
• Failing to yield at ramps and intersections.
• Violating railroad crossings.
• Displaying or using a weapon.
• Displaying aggressive or obscene gestures.
• Slow moving traffic in fast lanes, etc

The following hints are applicable:

 

• Do not react to provocation.
• Stay away from erratic drivers.
• Avoid eye contact with an aggressive driver.
• Use your hooter sparingly.
• Do not flash your headlights.
• Do not make obscene gestures.
• Do not change lanes without using your indicator.
• Do not drive too close to the vehicle in front of you.
• Do not block lanes

Missing Person - Amy Jackenlee (last seen 04.02.2011)

The station received a missing person report.


On Friday 2011-02-04 Amy Jackenlee was last seen by her daughter at their guest house at +- 20:00.

The daughter then tried to contact her mother on Saturday without success. On Sunday morning she received a call from the gardener that was working at the guesthouse.

When she arrived at the house her mothers car was gone as well as a laptop and cell phone and a small portable radio/CD. They contacted the police, a full forensic investigation was done at the premises.

The vehicle a red Ford Fiesta (old shape 2003) reg nr MGZ641GP is also missing. No tracking device on vehicle. Missing person case was opened and is being investigated by the Linden Detectives.

We are also looking for a white male with short blond hair 1.9 meters tall very skinny who alleges he is from the USA that can help with the investigation.

Any information can be communicated with the investigating officer W/Off Hiepner 0826241235