The following was received from Nick Nicolaou, CPF Brooklyn Sector 4 on 12 June 2014:

Dear Residents,

There is a sharp increase in armed robberies in our sector. There were at least 6 incidents in the past month. We occasionally have armed robberies in our sector.
According to SAPS some incidents are planned and some are opportunistic. Getaway vehicles are often changed after a robbery takes place.

A lot of the incidents happen between 19:00-21:00 when it's dark and residents have returned home from work. The time frame between 19:00-21:00 might be preferred by robbers because there is still a bit of movement on the roads which makes it more difficult to distinguish suspicious vehicles from other traffic.

These are the different methods used:

• They follow you into your driveway when you open your gate or they simply block you from leaving your driveway. The latter is normally planned, based on your routines.
• They convince someone into opening the gate by pretending to be Saps, Tshwane workers, Telkom, Repairmen, in distress,etc.
• They enter your premises by climbing over/cutting your fence or lifting/tampering with your main gate.

A very effective crime prevention method is having more eyes and ears on our roads. We need more car patrollers and inactive patrollers to resume patrolling.

Any residents willing to assist with car patrols please email info@silvertoncpa.co.za.

Suggestions to increase your security:

MOTORIZED FRONT GATES

Robbers often gain access to the premises by lifting the motorway gate off its’ cog rail, and then simply push it open. Various overlapping flanges can be welded to the gate uprights, that will prevent this, as the gate cannot then be lifted. Similarly, a stout pin that slots into the upright when the gate closes works as well.

Another technique used by robbers, is to insert a Crowbar between the gate Cog rail and the lower gate frame, and then to lever the cog rail upwards, so that it no longer engages on the motor cog wheel. Now the gate can be opened without lifting it. This can be prevented by welding a strip of flatbar about 1.5 meters long between the gate frame and the cog rail, so that a crowbar cannot be inserted there. This strip of flatbar must be over the end where the cogwheel is located. Make sure your gate motor cannot be opened and put into manual mode, by adding steel support around it with padlocks. If possible, put a sturdy lock on your electric gate when you leave home. This is a “mission” but nonetheless it prohibits criminals from opening your gate and driving into your premises where there is less visibility.

ANTI-HIJACKING AND ROBBERY HINTS

Many, if not most hijackings occur as one leaves or arrives home. This is where increased vigilance will pay the most dividends. If confronted, activate your panic button. If cornered, co-operate fully with the hijackers, do not stare at them, move slowly and deliberately, and keep your hands in view all the time. Do nothing to provoke them; your life is worth more than your car or possessions.

Keep the area around the entrance clear of shrubs, so that there is not any convenient hiding place. Have security lights at the entrance that come on as darkness falls. Motion detection lights are highly recommended. Keep a good lookout as you approach your house. Has anybody been following you? Are there any cars or persons loitering near your entrance? If so, drive on and go around the block. If still unhappy, go for the nearest safe place (petrol station, police station, shopping center, etc.); call your security company to escort you home.

If traffic allows, always remain in the road whilst your gate opens. This allows you to pull off in hurry if you suspect something will happen and it will prevent you from being boxed by your driveway entrance. If you have to stop in the entrance, put the car into reverse at once if you suspect that you will be cornered-this is an unexpected move and disconcerts the hijacker and further allows you to back off in a hurry.

If you have high walls and cannot see outside your house install mirrors or cameras to see if anyone is outside before leaving the house or install motion detector lights facing the outside when exiting at night.

Sometimes hijackers will stage an accident to get you out of your vehicle. Always treat people with suspicion. If you’re not sure about someone’s intentions ask them to follow you by moving your hand forward and backwards. Proceed to the nearest public place (petrol station or shopping center, preferably with car guards around) or police station. Put your hazards on.

DOMESTIC WORKERS AND GARDENERS

They can be our best field agents if they know what to look out for or how to report crime and suspicious activity. They’re more at home during the day than we are. Send them to domestic workshops organized by your local CPF or police station.

Equip your workers with panic buttons. VERY IMPORTANT!

Always polygraph your domestic workers or gardeners if there has been an incident at your house. Even if they’re not guilty - if they know that there’s a likelihood of a polygraph test in future it will deter them from cooperating with criminals. Even domestic workers that have worked for you for 30 years can be swayed. Criminals will promise them a small cut and reassure them that nobody will be at home when they burgle or that they won’t hurt anyone if someone is at home. Sometimes workers are threatened or blackmailed to give information.

Make domestic workers abd gardeners aware that they must not give out information relating to their workplace or their employers whereabouts; especially to other domestic workers and gardeners.

Tell them not to open for anyone unless authorized by you. Always suspect people posing as Telkom, SABC, SAPS, meterreaders, repairmen, etc.

A lot of domestic workers see crime as their employer’s problem and that it won’t affect them. Make them realize the implications of a robbery. Criminals often don't play nice.
I have attached our general security guidelines document that has additional information.