House robberies a common crime that is committed by unknown criminals

Photo: Good housekeeping

House robberies have become a common crime that happen not just in Eldorado Park but across the country despite the safety measure a home owner and family undertake to secure their homes.

 

Eldorado Park SAPS  would like to share with the community safety tips. This is due to the increase in the number of house robberies that have been reported at the police station recently. Community members especially within the Freedom Park precinct,  in the areas of Siyaya, Zimbabwe, St Martin and Thandanani to exercise caution when securing their homes.

 

This comes after it is alleged that four males broke into homes of victims, pointing them with firearms and threatens to shoot if any attempt to alert anyone is made.

 

“Police have also discovered during the investigation of these cases, that the items mainly targeted by these offenders are usually television sets, laptops, cellphones and cash. It is also suspected that a vehicle is used in the commission of these hideous crimes,” said Constable Roxanne Gibb, spokesperson of Eldorado Park SAPS.

 

She further explained that another matter for concern is the fact that the reason behind these house robberies being committed, is due to a high demand for these items.

 

Eldorado Park SAPS therefore reminds the community members, that if anyone is found to be in possession of stolen/robbed property, or has intentions of buying stolen goods, to refrain from these acts. Anyone found to be in possession of these items is regarded as being part and guilty of committing the offence, which has serious consequences and may result in prosecution.,

 

Here are some safety tips to avoid falling victim from the Eldorado Park SAPS:

 

·          Never leave keys in locks or at the door.

·          Ensure that curtains are properly closed after dark.

·          Ensure that doors and windows are properly equipped/fitted with burglar guard gates, or crossbars, and where possible use padlocks. It should be locked at all times.

·          As soon as you hear or notice suspicious behaviour, movement or persons, contact the SAPS immediately. However, ensure that you do as such without being exposed.

·          Do not look at the robbers directly, do so without being noticed. If you do recognise any of them, don't make it known. Try to instead memorise any features that may assist in identification and investigation.

·          Never try to fight or negotiate with the offenders. 

 

Eldorado Park SAPS also appeals to anyone with any information relating to the identities of the offenders or getaway vehicle used, to urgently contact Eldorado Park SAPS on 011-9460300 or alternatively our SAPS Crime Stop Hotline on 08600-10111 or use the MySAPS App.

Simcard scamming a new trend found at shopping centres

 Eldorado Park SAPS has issued a warning to  the community about a new trend of scam. This comes after community members alleged that they are being approached by male and female strangers who allege that they work for a mobile network and are promoting free sim cards that contain data. 

 

They are usually spotted attracting unsuspecting people around the shopping  centres in the Greater Eldorado Park policing vicinity.

 

“The modus operandi/tactics used by the suspects are usually approaching potential victim and request to upgrade their cellphone network ,as well as issuing them with a free data sim card,” said Constable Roxanne Gibb, Eldorado Park SAPS spokesperson.

 

She explained that upon agreeing to their request, the scammers thereafter remove the victim's simcard and insert their own. They then request that one gives the network time to complete the process and that all your free data will be received after completion of the processes.

 

“After a while someone alleging to be from the call centre of the mobile network company contacts you to inform you that they are still working on the process and that is why you still have no network service,” she said.

 

She further stated that the victims thereafter realise that money has been taken or transferred out of their bank account and by this time it is too late to retrieve the money or locate the suspect/s ,and when the victims approach the mobile networking companies in this regards they are then informed that their simcards are inactive. 

 

“Eldorado Park SAPS therefore encourages members of the community to be vigilant and refrain from falling prey to these scammers and to also not allow anyone to insert any simcards into their cellphones alleging that it is for free data purposes. The community members are hereby advised to instead approach a legitimate cellphone store or directly contact the network provider for any upgrades or free data requests or enquiries,” Gibb ended 

 

The police are appealing with community when they notice or are aware of any suspicious behaviour being committed in this manner to immediately alert Eldorado Park SAPS on 011-946-0300 or SAPS Crime Stop Hotline on 08600-10111 or use the MySAPS app.

 

 

Emotional Day for learners and parents/guardians

Tears of joy and sadness ran the down the cheeks of Grade 1 learners as they left their parents/guardians to start 'big school', though it was an emotional morning for the parents and guardians  who had sad faces leaving their children with strangers who become their second parents at school from day one around South Africa on 15th January 2020. Many children were spotted making friends and having fun at school, while teachers were spotted sorting out all admin work for their classrooms and making sure all the learners have their books, and stationery in order.

While the principals office was still packed with parents doing school fees payments before they said bye to their children

Private Contracts clamp down on land invaders homes

On January 15, 2020 the JMPD POP , along with SAPS POP and other officials clamped down illegal built homes at the Tokolia's Farm in Ext 9. More tha 40 shacks built on private land were demolished. Dwellers belonginga were broken down by the private contractors. 

This comes after a meeting with the court’s Sheriff , Mr Khumalo said at the meeting the was held on  Friday, January 10, 2020. Mr Khumalo told the dwellers that they  will come and evict them from the farm. The situation was volatile at the beginning when police arrived and seemed down while contractors  were doing their work, but police were keeping an eye, making sure that residents do not disrupt the flow of traffic or the police work.

POP SAPS and JMPD are still at scene monitoring the area for any unexpected volatile situations that may occur.

Wayne Minnaar, JMPD spokesperson  said, "JMPD officers are currently monitoring the traffic flow along Nirvana Drive in extention 9 Lenasia, where the Sheriff of the court produced an eviction order for the removal of approximately 40 illegal shacks.A  private contractor is being used for the removal of the illegal structures. JMPD will continue to monitor the area today.”

Driver gets arrested during 'sting operation'

A man believed to be a taxi driver on a taxi app was surprised when police arrested him on 1st January 2020 and did not resist arrest. SAPS along with Pascoe Investigations Pty Ltd and Dakgomo Forensic planned a ‘sting operation’ to arrest him. This comes after he allegedly raped a 31-year-old woman in the early hours of New Year’s Day. Apparently, the victim booked a taxi from her location in Norkem Park, Eastrand to another location within the area. The driver who fetched her stopped at the shops as she had requested him to do so and while she was inside, it is alleged he spiked her drink she was drinking that was left in the car. She fell unconscious and he took a different route and went to a friend’s place at Vusumuzi Informal Settlement near Tembisa, the victim woke up in a shack while being raped. 

According to Wendy Pascoe of Pascoe Investigations, “I was surprised that the man committed the crime, as the hailing services cars have tracking devices and using the app would leave a trace that would be easy to track,” adding that, the driver took a huge risk, despite the fact he initially thought he would get away with it by threatening her. But that obviously did not work. “The suspect threatened to kill the victim if she reported him to the police. She sent a location to a friend which made it possible for the police to get to the crime scene where the incident took place,” Pascoe explained. 

The victim reported the matter to the police and was taken to hospital for medical treatment. The brave victim requested Pascoe to assist along with the amazing fellow investigating company Dikgomo Forensics in tracking the alleged rapist down. They worked tirelessly to track him down and a New Year’s Day successful mission was completed.

Provincial spokesperson Brig. Mathapelo Peters confirmed the incident and said, “A suspect is expected to appear before the magistrate at Kempton Park Magistrate's  Court on Monday, 6th January 2020 on charges of kidnapping and rape.”

*Taxi Safety Tips*

*1.* Never take a taxi alone if you’re drunk.

*2.* Sit in the backseat – not in the passenger seat.

*3.* Keep expensive items hidden and keep your things close

*4.* Know where you’re going ahead of time.

*5.* Never discuss personal matters where you work, live, hang out and other personal matters.

*6.* Always keep your phone handy.

*7.* Know who to call in an emergency.

*8.* Never enter a taxi with someone else in the passenger seat.

*Pascoe Investigations PTY LTD*

_Let's be vigilant and work collectively to keep families TOGETHER and SAFE_

Thugs brutally kill 8 lions

Eight lions lives were brutally taken on Friday, January 3rd 2020 by thugs who trespassed at the Predators Rock Game Farm outside Rustenburg. 

The owners found the lions lying in the enclosure with their body parts cut off.

Jeanette Blom, owner of the game farm said, "It  is really sad. We have lost eight of our beautiful lions. They were cruelly butchered by thugs," adding their families are heart broken by the incident. 

Blom explained, "It was vicious, cruel and brutal. Our lions were 'magnificent' animals with such a beautiful nature.  They did not deserve to endure such a painful death."

In the recent years there has been a spat of wild animal killings at many different game reserves and the wild where criminals target the animals for their body parts and are believed to use poison to make an animal sleep before cutting off their body parts.

 

Sadly for the start of the new year at Predators Rock they are yearning the loss of their animals who were in enclosures when they were brutally tortured and killed by unknown suspects.

Photo credits: Jeanette Blom

Police had a successful 'Operation O Kae Molao

Second day into 2020 on 2nd January, the Ekurhuleni SAPS District of Major General Vincent Leshanane along with National Intervention Unit, Dog Unit, Gauteng Traffic Saturation Unit and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) embarked on a  parade at the Benoni Mechanical to address the major issues that the area has been facing due to illegal mining within their vicinity of policing during their 'Operation O Kae Molao'. 

All units visited the major Hotspot areas to investigate and search for dangerous weapons, illegal firearms, explosives and illegal immigrants. 

"During this successful operations our members arrested, 13 illegal immigrants, seized 65 iron pots, 12 gas bottles, 110 phendukas (instruments used to clean the stones), 67 phenduka stands, A bicycle, 288.420 ml of liquor, 40 explosives (blasting cartridges) , 7 connecting capped fuses,  1 length detornating fuses, 2 vehicles taken for inquiry, 3 liqour outlets closed, 3 J534 issued for R2000, 00, 615 persons searched, 30 vehicles searched and 224 shacks searched, said Capt. Nelda Sekgobela.

Photos by: Capt Sekgobela