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David Raphael 072 065 7223 Chairperson OBS NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH _____ From: Chris Walker [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, 21 April 2010 3:06 PM To: Chris Walker Subject: CSS CSS Security & Technology Centre UNDERSTANDING AND VISUALISING NEW TECHNOLOGY 21/04/2010 _____ HI ALL CRIME IS AN ISSUE The criminal mind is constantly adapting to overcome existing barriers and being in my current position where I'm in constant communication with crime prevention organizations and security companies I thought I would share the information that I am gathering in the form of a newsletter. I am trying to gather important information relating to crime trends, if you can email me on key incidents or information I would appreciate it. I do feel that it is important for information to be shared and the better our knowledge, the more we will be equipped to prevent crime. At the moment driveway robberies are becoming a major concern and I would like to emphasis the importance of being vigilant in this regard. Criminals are following potential victims home and waiting until they open their gates or garages and then targeting them. I know off three incidents this weekend involving driveway robbery crimes. Do not open your gates or garage doors if you feel you are being followed. Drive around the block and if you are still being followed drive to your nearest police station. Do not drive into your driveway and then open your gate, always allow for an exit strategy. Most important of cause is trusting your instincts and being aware when you are arriving home. I have also information on expensive bicycles being targeted at the moment. With criminals specifically breaking into garages and removing only the bicycles. In one case the bicycle was dismantled and taken out through a small window. Best wishes, Chris Q & A with Zama Nkosi-Mazibuko from Cosmopolitan Magazine I was recently asked some tough questions on safety and security and being proactive about security. In what situations would you recommend for people to be proactive? Everyone should get involved with proactive crime prevention as I believe this is the only way that we can truly decrease the crime rate in this country. Some key points Vigilance and awareness - trust your instincts (we were all born with them 'don't think maybe') Do not be a victim of trusting Communication with all parties involved with crime prevention Phone numbers * Make sure you have neighbours phone numbers & cell numbers * Make sure you have your local neighbourhood watch or crime watch phone numbers. * Police station * Security service provider Report suspicious behavior to crime watch/ police/ crime hotline To give you an example of how the local Neighbourhood Watch in the area works. Its known as BKM Watch (eyes and ears of a community) This is a very well run and proactive organisation. People that live in the area, sign up as members and are encouraged to do visible patrolling of that area for a couple of hours of the month. (It has been proven again and again that by having visible patrolling in an area over a certain period of time crime will drop in that area) Visible patrolling involves vehicles with lights, signs on vehicles 'crime watch on patrol' looking out for suspicious activity. Please note: this is on a reporting only basis and members are not encouraged to get involved with reactive policing activities. This neighbourhood watch has a network of radios in the area. Some of these radio's can be taken on patrol and some are privately owned. The police, security service providers and other interested crime prevention groups in the area are all encouraged to use the radio network. All criminal activity in the area is communicated to the members via email. This creates and awareness of what is happening in a community. The surrounding Neighbourhood watches are also on the same radio network encouraging effective communication between these organisions. Operations and crime prevention ideas are shared and communicated between the various organizations. A DVD on how to set up a Neighbourhood Watch is available through BKM. [email protected] Effective Communication, Report your crime not only to the police but also to your Neighbourhood watch/ crime watch so that this information can be shared with all the people in your community. Most crime prevention or neighbourhood watches struggle to work properly due to two main reasons: Maintaining the momentum of the community in getting involved with crime prevention Lack of funding to promote and encourage effective proactive crime prevention. When is it okay to go and investigate when you hear a neighbour screaming or any other scenario resembling that? Lots of these decisions are about choice. If in anyway you feel your life might be in danger then not to react is possibly your best option. However creating a culture of proactive crime prevention and awareness is important. From a perspective of any of these situations making a mental note about observing details is very important as time frames in these scenario's are normally very quick. Try and pick up as many details as possible. If you hear strange noises coming from your neighbours house, phone them first. If they do not answer the phone you know there may be a problem. Its important for everyone to share their phone numbers with their neighbours. If there has been no response you have several options. Contact other neighbours or people in the area, I would not advise proceeding alone. Contact armed response company or police. What do you need to keep in mind so that your safety isn't compromised? Proactive crime prevention should never put your life in danger Almost all crimes that occur when people are at home involve a criminal that has some kind of weapon and normally they have a firearm. Can some crimes (like domestic violence) be prevented if neighbours and the general public get involved when they suspect something isn't right? Tough question as it depends on the situation. If the domestic violence is regular contact the Stop Women's Abuse Hotline 0800150150 and ask for advice. If you feel that it is very serious contact the police, but normally the victim would need to lay a charge and often this will not happen. Any there any tips you can give on what to do in scenarios where you're not sure about the safety of other? What are the dos and don'ts? Trust your instincts and try your best to avoid any situations you are wary of. Generally if someone is armed and puts a knife to your throat or points a gun at you give them what they want. Too many lives are lost withy people trying to fight back over personal belongings like a cellphone or a wallet. Most deaths from a firearm occur when the victim is shot at close range. One must remember that the perpetrator is probably as scared as you are and the result that they after is to get what they came for and go. If you feel your life is in danger you have two choices, not to react or when to react this will depend largely on the situation and again be about personal choice. It's all a personal choice that you as an individual need to make. Candle Light Vigil on the 13th of April 2010 Interesting article on the candle light vigil on 13 April 2010. <http://www.bkmwatch.org.za/news_list.aspx> http://www.bkmwatch.org.za/news_list.aspx For more info: [email protected] 3. Product of the month VISEC V-Mobile combines an embedded robust mobile pc and true megapixel IP cameras with the renowned VISEC number plate recognition software, to produce the most versatile, top quality mobile surveillance system available. The mobile unit is a purpose built fixed mounted unit for In-vehicle operation which can be used with various VGA displays, ie. Touch Panels, Standard LCD Monitors etc. The system can identify license plates on moving vehicles at top speeds from real time IP Video. Visec V mobile captures license pates from high resolution video. 4. ABOUT CSS Security & Technology Centre Is security planning an issue for you? It is important to keep informed on how to adapt. CSS Security & Technology Centre is a venue that has been established in Tokai, Cape Town to specifically help you keep up to date with what's new in the Security & Technology fields. The centre provides a permanent exhibition representing over 30 security companies with detailed displays on their products and services. Visitors to the centre will be able to visualize systems, product, ideas and new technology and all information is FREE. INFO Hotline on +27 21 715 5557 Email: [email protected] 5. As this is the first Newsletter in this format please feel free to forward onto anyone who may be interested. If you're NOT a subscriber and someone else has sent you this newsletter, you can visit the following URL to join us SUBSCRIBE <mailto:[email protected]?subject=please%20add%20me.> [To unsubscribe please click here <mailto:[email protected]?subject=unsubscribe%20me> ] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en
