OPENING STATEMENT
The subject of home protection has many aspects to it, some of which can cause confusion. The Betty’s Bay Neighbourhood Watch (BBNW or the Watch) has been operating in the current format for 3 years now. We too have learned much through trial and error. We have established a sound and unique structure with the idea of using technology and good intelligence to prevent crime in Betty’s Bay. We have our home-grown career criminals and drug addicts who pose an ongoing problem for us all. We learned early on that alarm systems with beams and sensors are necessary, with the added panic button option being optimal. We also concluded that these measures were not sufficient. In order to understand whom we are dealing with, we introduced the camera project.
AIM
The aim of this correspondence is to share with everyone the collective thoughts on preventing crime here in Betty’s Bay.
BACKGROUND
Although our crime stats are relatively low it is irritatingly clear that there are a bunch of people hell-bent on breaking into our homes and stealing our property.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
- We have a well organised group of thieves living in and around Betty’s Bay.
- Their sole function is to steal from us on a regular basis to sustain their habits.
- These thieves are both opportunistic and organised.
- They are well connected to the criminal world surrounding Betty’s Bay.
- They do not have jobs and jobs for them are not forthcoming.
- They get intelligence about our houses from the people that work for us.
- The post-crime system and prosecution have not managed to charge and sentence apprehended criminals.
- We must catch them red-handed to get any meaningful results.
- They operate in the dead of night.
- They know this area like the back of their hands.
- In mafia-style, they protect one another.
- One gets the impression that parts of the community are aware of what is happening but choose to be silent.
- Gangsterism, Drugs and Poverty (our ‘GDPs’) are the main contributors to crime in Betty’s Bay.
There are so many factors that influence these criminals to steal from us and we need to combat their MO by being smarter than them and by making full use of technology.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: We acknowledge that as much as possible is being done by the BBNW and their partners in crime prevention.
We also acknowledge all the passive and active Watch members that report and act on reports.
We acknowledge the support from SAPS Crime Intelligence wing, Kleinmond SAPS, Law Enforcement, Traffic, Cape Nature, DFFE and visiting specialist units.
COMMUNITY VISION
- To be a crime free community.
INTELLIGENCE: The most important part of preventing crime is having information. No matter how insignificant an occurrence might seem to you, it could be significant to someone else in the arena of crime prevention, where information is turned into intelligence. The more people that are linked up to their relevant Watch the better. The more eyes and ears we have as a community working together to prevent crime, the more successful we will be. No one should be excluded.
LIGHTING: Lighting your house up at night can be both an asset and a handicap.
There are homes that have security lights that stay on permanently, lighting up their entire yard or parts thereof during the night. Keep in mind that Betty’s Bay has no street lights for a good reason. We live in a biosphere and the nocturnal animals are negatively affected by this constant lighting. But worst of all, the lights cast fixed shadows where a criminal could quite easily rest or hold up. You and I are at this point non the wiser as to his/ her presence outside in the shadows. Advantage: the criminal. When the BBNW walk by the lit-up house, they cannot see what is going on in the shadows and they are reluctant to even look at the house because the light dilates their pupils, rendering their night vision ineffective. So, they prefer to look the other way. The lights are also irritations to neighbours and approaching drivers as they shine into bedroom windows and onto oncoming cars. It may be concluded that permanent spotlights are not of any help as a criminal deterrent but are more of a hindrance to all, especially here in our normally dark areas. The foot patrollers’ eyes grow accustomed to the darkness and they can see well without spotlights. When necessary, they have night vision and torches to assist them.
It is recommended that all spotlights be attached to a movement sensor so that as soon as a person crosses the beam of the sensor the light goes on and tells you and the patrollers that something is in your yard. The sensor must not be set too sensitively otherwise the little animals and the wind will trigger the sensor unnecessarily. Lights going on or a sequence of lights being triggered are indicators of possible criminal activity. They are also detrimental to the nocturnal animals. What is also important to remember is that your light’s beam must not extend past your erf boundary.
HUMAN RESOURCES: The Watch could do with more active volunteers to assist with activities in their specific areas. We particularly need someone to represent Bass Lake and also Jock’s Bay. Their key responsibility would be to administer the groups and man the radio. Other responsibilities would be to know the bush and environment of the area and to give advice to residents. Yes, it takes a special person and a special partner to do this effectively for the community.
TRIGGERS: These are things that the Watch, especially the patrollers on foot, look out for when patrolling. Barking dogs or a sequence of barking dogs are a good indicator that someone is in that area. When frogs become silent it also indicates that someone could be in the area. Our Thick Knees (Dikkops) help because they all rest on our roads at night so anything disturbing them will cause them to fly off. When they do this, they make a noise. I have already mentioned the spotlights on sensors. All our patrollers have learned how to use these indicators to make a call as to what action should be taken, giving the Watch a better chance of preventing a crime or finding a criminal after the fact.
MODUS OPERANDI: The criminals gather information from your domestic helpers and gardeners, or observe your property during the day and will later come in, lying low within eye sight of your home and will pounce when the time is right. They will hide the stolen goods in the bushes until their pick-up MV arrives. The goods are sold out of hand and taken to pawn shops in Somerset West and other places outside our local scope of investigation.
ALARM SYSTEMS: Everyone living in Betty’s Bay should have an alarm system serviced by one of our partners – ASK, CULIVE, Sandown Bay Security and Vetus Schola. At the very least one should have a panic button system. These are the recommended options:
- A panic button system on its own.
- A panic button system with outside spotlights controlled by sensors.
- An alarm system with inside sensors, a panic button system, and controlled spotlights.
- An alarm system with inside sensors, a panic button system and beams on the outside with controlled spotlights.
- In addition to 1, 2, 3 or 4 one should consider a camera system, front and back, independent from your security company. Checks and balances – and not putting all your security eggs in one basket.
Having all the systems mentioned above puts you in the best position to prevent crime in your space. Your camera gives us an opportunity to identify perpetrators as they cruise through our streets at night. It could catch a criminal leaving a crime scene or make him/her move to another area. Keep in mind that you want armed response – to protect your home and to help bolster the partnership with the Watch.
CAMERAS: The BBNW in support of the Ratepayers has to date installed 58 cameras across Betty’s Bay in the attempt to prevent crime, retrieve evidence post facto as well as to assist other agencies. The cameras are also used to count animals and assist the anti-poaching agencies to be more effective. These cameras may be loaded onto your phone, and you too can become a camera monitor in your area.
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOUR: Know your neighbours and look out for one another. Know when they are not at home. Keep a copy of their house keys where possible. Know their medical status.
TRUST: One must trust your security company to work in your best interest. You must trust your neighbour. You must trust you Watch. In the event you have reason not to trust any one of the above then this too must be made known in order to protect others.
BATTLE INDICATORS: These are observations you and I make during the day. People walking past an area a few times looking very suspicious or a vehicle driving slowly past a house with a number of gentlemen in it looking suspicious could be indicators that something is going to happen later that night or in the week. We have strategies for dealing with this information.
MUNICIPAL WARNINGS: Notice is given when surveys, door-to-door meter readings or political party campaigns and so on are taking place in our area. If there is no such notice, then don’t be fooled by anyone approaching you under the guise of doing the above. If you are unsure, contact me and I will investigate before you open your door. Do not even open for your security company unless it has been arranged or you are familiar with what is going on.
DO NOT go outside to close a tap that is suddenly gashing water. Call your security company or the Watch to close it.
Do not let anyone into your house who wants to check something on behalf of someone. Phone to confirm that person’s legitimacy first or contact security/the Watch.
Do not open your door for anyone after dark unless you are 100% sure it is safe to do so.
OBSERVATION
Crime has continued at its recent pace, but the criminals are not operating in the camera areas. The spaces are more predictable and getting smaller and smaller as we grow the camera network.
CHALLENGES
The challenge is to get more people involved with reporting and responding to observations. We can plan for much, but we need funds to improve the Watch system.
CONCLUSION
We have established the Watch system that will eventually assist us to realise a crime free community, but we are not there yet. There is lots more that must be put in place and many more hands are required.
GRATITUDE FROM BBRA CHAIRMAN
I thank each person who contributes to our endeavours to make Betty’s Bay a more self-sufficient and secure place to live in. Thank you for being positive and offering smart workable solutions.
Kind Regards
Date: 27 July 2023
(WR JACKSON)
BETTY’S BAY RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION: CHAIRMAN