CPNW NEWSLETTER – June 2026

Date posted: June 17, 2026

Dear Neighbours,

Crime Update

There have been three further incidents, that we are aware of, in the period since the last car-jamming incident on 11 March, reported in the last newsletter (but happily, nothing further at the Beach Parking Area).

On the night of 2 April, a vehicle inside a property in Oranje Close was broken into through a side window that was forced open. Some small alarm batteries were stolen, and the bonnet was forced open in what appears to have been an unsuccessful attempt to remove the main battery.

A property on Dunedin Avenue seems to have experienced at least two opportunistic visits on 15 and 16 May. Both visits occurred during daylight hours, after storm damage to the property had left it exposed. A PlayStation and then an iPad were reported stolen. It was particularly concerning to note that the second incident seems to have occurred whilst at least one resident was on the property.

Later on the same day, what appears to have been a carefully targeted break-in took place at the Farm Village, in one of the houses on its northern boundary, the second on that property in two years. It was reported that alarm activations had occurred at 16h30, 17h00 and 21h00, and that armed response had attended the first activation but found the house empty. Two white Toyota Avanzas, with obscured registration plates, were noted to be in the area at the time. A significant number of high-value items were taken, including televisions, computers and a wide range of household items, with the perpetrators even attempting to remove a carpet. This area is well covered by cameras, and SAPS have requested access to footage.

Regular Pattern

Taken together, these incidents reflect the regular pattern of crime that we continue to face, a significant portion of it carried out by skilled professionals who are quick to capitalise on any opportunity. Sadly, this will always be something of an “arms race”, with at least the most effective criminals often ahead in the game.

Unfortunately, we all make mistakes, become a little careless, neglect to upgrade security systems and so forth, and we do not want to have to live in a state of constant vigilance, obsessive about our security.

This, we would argue, is precisely why it is so important to deal with these issues collectively. As much as we encourage everyone to be as careful as possible, our ability to live and act with freedom, rather than being driven by fear, becomes a product of how successfully we address these issues together.

This is something we believe we have been relatively successful at, reducing the average number of monthly incidents in the area from more than seven in 2007 to fewer than two per month since 2018. Equally importantly, we have helped foster a remarkably strong community, with the results evident in so many other aspects of our lives, from cleaner beaches and safer roads to better services, protected wild spaces and more sensitive development.

Connector Groups

And perhaps even more caring neighbours? We would like to think that, through our Community Connector groups, we are also helping to bring our neighbours together – thus our drive to develop as many such groups as possible, ideally involving smaller groups of “shouting distance” neighbours.

Aside from the obvious security benefits of knowing the neighbours around you, we have no doubt that it also promotes the collective sense of ownership that makes this neighbourhood so special. We also see our Connectors as an important way for us, as a Committee, to understand both crime concerns and the more general needs of our members.

We have therefore resolved to invite Connectors to participate in our committee meetings at least a few times each year, and it was great to meet 11 of the 35 Connectors we currently have in the area at our last Committee meeting on 8 June.

As we explained at the meeting, the original intention behind these groups is simply to get as many people in our neighbourhood connected to one another as possible. We therefore try to allow these groups to develop as organically as possible, with the only requirement from CPNW being that there is a coordinator who is connected to our Committee via two Committee Representatives (Lynne and Matt Coquillon).

Beyond that, we feel that small groups are best placed to make their own decisions about how they operate, with some of the first groups to develop not even using WhatsApp. At the meeting, we learned that some groups prefer a strict “safety issues only” policy, whilst others are happy to include a wider range of communications. However, everyone seemed clear that some limits are necessary if we want to ensure that people pay attention when it really matters.

Small Groups Better!

We also feel that this is one of the important reasons for having smaller groups of neighbours, rather than the larger groups – sometimes the size of entire streets – that currently exist. Smaller groups are less likely to carry irrelevant noise, tend to receive closer attention because they are “closer to home”, and are generally easier to manage.

Our goal is therefore to expand these groups even further, including more people in a greater number of groups. The call remains for more neighbours to come forward and volunteer as Connectors. Even if you are already part of a larger group, and have neighbours who are not, nothing stops you from being the Connector of another, smaller group, or even – except perhaps your capacity for screen time – from being in two groups.

This, of course, means getting involved, which comes with effort, time and commitment. We are mostly busy people, with jobs and families and a thousand things to do in this beautiful environment, so volunteering does not come easily.

Perhaps as a reaction to the volume of human contact we all face daily, we also tend to want to withdraw into our home spaces, with privacy being something we strongly value. The essence of being at home, however, is a sense of safety and tranquillity in the beautiful environment you have created. It simply takes recognising that this depends on the cooperation of your neighbours to understand that giving time and effort to connecting in this way should be something we do as naturally as tending our gardens.

Buzzer App

We would like to ensure that there is at least one dedicated emergency channel for our community to use. Although we have not completely discounted a dedicated emergency WhatsApp group, we believe that the Buzzer app can perform this function effectively, with the added benefit of alerting appropriate emergency services and geo-locating incidents.

So, we encourage everybody to sign up on the Buzzer app, which is free to use for everyone in Chapmans Peak, as CPNW pays a subscription fee to allow this benefit to our neighbours. We are aware that many residents had been put off using the app by a page demanding payment when the app is opened and we are currently in communication with Buzzer regarding whether this function can be removed from the app for those within the area.

Cape Talk

It was great hearing about Noordhoek and the very positive story of our community’s efforts to care for it, featured in the spotlight on Cape Talk’s Afternoon Drive show.

However, we felt that the crime situation in neighbourhoods, as well as on the beach and mountain in the greater Noordhoek area, was not accurately depicted, whilst undue attention was given to the often-amplified noise generated by a relatively small number of voices on social media.

To put the record straight: our data clearly shows a general improvement in safety in recent months and years, the recent spate of car-jamming incidents notwithstanding.

We also believe that credit should be given to everyone, not only in the Chapman’s Peak Area but also in all the Noordhoek Neighbourhood Watch Groups who have done a huge amount of work in making the area significantly safer.

Rules Rule!

In terms of concerns raised on social media, we first need to point out that the way democracies work is that we are all beholden to the same set of rules.

Representatives from both CPNW and the NRPA are engaging regularly with the City about the various traffic-related issues, and there are responses in the pipeline. Not all of these will please everybody, but we are convinced they will contribute to safer roads.

However, if we do not want others to speed, create excessive noise, park badly or drive under the influence on our roads, then we cannot expect a different standard for ourselves simply because we are local.

To the many who left abandoned cars in the Farm Village parking lot overnight: one of the advantages of local watering holes and safe neighbourhoods is that you can get there on foot!

Social Media Discussions

The number of voices on social media demanding “action” on particular issues, proposing alternative solutions, or occasionally calling for more radical responses does seem to be on the rise. As the (no doubt exhausted) administrators of these channels frequently point out, there are dedicated forums for expressing opinions and debating ideas without disrupting important communication channels or undermining the efforts of those who are actively involved in addressing these concerns.

Whilst the work of organised community groups can sometimes seem slow, it has repeatedly proven to be effective in Noordhoek. If we are serious about wanting things to improve, supporting and strengthening these groups remains one of the most constructive ways to do so. We therefore applaud and support the email campaign raising concerns about speeding and traffic noise, and we hope that residents will continue to record incidents on the Main Road in a coordinated and systematic manner.

Homeless Individuals

The presence of homeless individuals in the area is an issue that we have been working hard to address for some time, with limited success. This has included efforts to assist individuals in accessing shelter accommodation, support services and mental health resources, as well as practical assistance such as transport support where appropriate.

Whilst we do not believe that either of the two homeless men currently giving rise to concern has significant criminal intent, a considerable amount of litter has been left at some encampment sites, and the use of open fires presents a serious safety risk. At the same time, we must respect the rights and dignity of all individuals, and simply attempting to remove people from the area is neither appropriate nor a sustainable solution.

What we can do is respond appropriately when unlawful or unsafe behaviour occurs and make use of the channels available to address specific concerns. If individuals are harassing residents, peering into properties or entering private property, please contact your armed response company, report the incident and request assistance.

If you are aware of a location where individuals have been sleeping, please note the location as precisely as possible and report it to the appropriate authority:

• If the location is on municipal land, contact the Street People Programme Unit on 0800 872 201.
• If it is on public land and constitutes a clear encampment, contact the City Land Invasion Hotline on 021 480 7700.
• If it is on the beach or within Table Mountain National Park, contact Table Mountain National Park on 0861 106 417 or 021 480 7700.

By reporting concerns through the appropriate channels, we can help ensure that both community safety concerns and the needs of vulnerable individuals are addressed in a lawful and constructive manner.

In other positive news:

• We have this month signed a new MOU with The South Peninsula Branch of the Volunteer Wildfire Services, whom we accommodate at the NCC, that will see them making a significant contribution to the Centre’s upkeep in return, whilst of course adding significantly to our fire security.
• We have appointed a service provider to monitor and do maintenance work on our now very extensive camera network. This takes a significant load off the back of volunteers.
• We have embarked on a comprehensive overhaul of the equipment and set-up in our Control Room at the NCC that will make it far more reliable and effective.
• We are re-activating communications and deployment plans in our somewhat dormant Response Team, which has not been called out in over 2 years, so that we will steadily get into a better position to respond if needed.
• We have reached out to the Farm Village, and we will be looking to include them more comprehensively as part of CPNW in the future!
• We will be starting to attend to a long process of updating our membership databases – so please help us to identify who lives where!

Your Invitation

It was also great to have some new members taking us up on the open invitation to attend any meeting, so please remember that you are always welcome.

Although we have plenty of tasks that need to be shared and endless potential projects, please be assured that nobody is immediately hit with a plea for help. We prefer people to get a feel for how we work and then, hopefully, find somewhere to pitch in that suits both their interests and abilities.

Hoping that everyone has a warm and safe winter!

The CPNW Committee

CPNW NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2026

Date posted: March 20, 2026

Dear Neighbours,

Beware of Car-jammers!

Please be very aware of car-jammers operating in the area! We have had at least 3 incidents at the Beach parking lot last week. The suspects take advantage of the busier times in the parking lot, and are skilled at evading both our cameras, everyone coming and going, as well as the parking attendants, who seem not to be quite making the grade as car guards.

We do have some plans for upgrading security, which I will elaborate on shortly, but this will come at a cost, and equally critically, we all need to be particularly vigilant, both about ensuring our cars are locked, and that we have left nothing of value in them, when we head down to  the beach!

Crime Update

It has been some time since a comprehensive crime update, with the last newsletter focussing exclusively on issues around waste pickers, so here is a comprehensive list of incidents since the December 18 newsletter:

• On the morning of 19 December, a Friday, an unsecured bicycle was stolen from a property in Hoek Street.
• On 25 January, at some time during the day, a large amount of wiring and a tap were taken from a building site, also in Hoek Street.
• On 27 January, also during the day, a number of gas bottles were stolen from one of the restaurants at the Red Herring Centre.
• On 4 February , there was a break-in at an Airbnb off Mountain Rd, between 20h30 and 22h30, when the residents, who were visitors to the area, went out for supper, neglecting to set their alarm, and leaving the house unsecured. Although cameras from De Goede Hoop Estate did spot 4 men with backpacks, on Chapmans Peak that night, inspection of the properties in the area would suggest that access was from below, as immediate access from above is well protected. It was noted that there is a busy building site below the properties.
• On the night between 2 and 3 March 3 there was a break-in to one of the offices at the Red Herring Centre. Camera Footage has been made available to SAPS.
• Car jamming incidents March 7, 10 and 11, early and mid-afternoon, camera footage has been made available to SAPS.

This makes a total of 8 incidents in the last 3 months, and highlights how we are increasingly targeted as visitors come to the area. It is also notable that most incidents were associated with lapses in security, something we need to work hard to alert visitors to – and constantly remind ourselves of!

Regarding the jamming problem, we have taken steps to increase the signage and have worked hard to publicise the issue on local media. We should also note that jamming has not only happened in the past, at the beach parking, but also at the Common, and so we can expect to see more widespread attempts as parking areas fill up overflow into our streets.

Parking Attendants

Besides their apparent lack of effectiveness in preventing car jamming, our experience with at least two of the three parking attendants has been less than satisfactory on several fronts. This includes unreliability, inappropriate behaviour in how they solicit tips, an inability to work as a team, and possibly more serious concerns. We have thus started to investigate a more formal arrangement, involving the procurement of services from one of our security providers.

We are hopeful that, in concert with the support camera-monitoring and the AR Vehicles, there would be a much higher chance of success, and we would be eager to implement something as soon as possible. This will of course, take funding, and although we do keep a “war chest” of funds for this kind of purpose, we are hoping to be able to limit this need to peak seasons, and we will need to do some fundraising to make this sustainable.

We are considering setting up a dedicated fund for this purpose and we are hopeful that local businesses, individuals who use the beach often, and other NW’s and Community Organisations will be willing to give us your support! It would be good to hear any thoughts and ideas on this via your feedback.

Traffic Issues

We are also noticing that a range of traffic-related issues are on the increase, from parking offences to problems like speeding, and driving under the influence. Although not strictly limited to the Chapmans Peak area, we have taken on board growing concerns about this and we have joined with the NRPA, in bringing this to the attention of the relevant city authorities.

Refuse Bins

On the Bin issue, we have been pleased to note a striking reduction in numbers on our streets on Fridays, after increased patrolling by SAPS, Security Companies and our residents!

This will, of course be a recurring problem, so the challenge is to make our responses sustainable by turning them into habits that we all see as part of our communal responsibility in the area, and something we make newcomers aware of. We have noticed a resurgence of bins being left out overnight again – this seems to be a particular issue at businesses, where this is left to staff or visitors, so we would urge such places to implement systems whereby visitors are informed of this, and/or  special arrangements are made to ensure the bins are only taken out in the mornings.

City Improvement District

All of these issues do, of course, again raise the issue of developing Noordhoek as a City Improvement District, as they pertain to our whole community. This is an undertaking we would strongly support, but its initiation and development is well beyond our capacity as one organisation. It would require a dedicated team of motivated individuals and significant funding, to see it through, but we are hopeful that, with the continued growth of business in the area, everyone will start to see this as a key investment that will secure our futures in a prosperous and peaceful Noordhoek!

Volunteers

It has been pleasing to note that more members are taking an interest in our meetings, and we are very happy to welcome Carol-Ann Parsons onto the team, who is providing some very helpful support in managing the NCC.

We are looking for anyone who can provide assistance with maintaining and developing our camera network. Although some knowledge or interest in CCTV technology would be a bonus, this is not critical, as we really need people who can take on admin tasks, such as coordinating with property owners, and installation teams, as well as specific tasks like monitoring and arranging maintenance.

Committee Meetings

Please remember anyone is welcome to our Committee Meetings! Dates are: 13 Apr / 11 May / 08 Jun/ 13 Jul / 10 Aug / 14 Sep / 12 Oct / 09 Nov / 14 Dec – 18h00 at the NCC.

Wishing everyone a safe month, and some cooler weather!

The CPNW Team.

CPNW NEWSLETTER – FEBRUARY 2026

Date posted: February 26, 2026

Dear Neighbours

Managing Bin Day Security Concerns

We have been grappling for some time with the problem of waste pickers entering our area every Friday. It is now well-established that this significantly increases the crime risk in our area, and there is a growing clamour for action to address it. However, residents clearly hold differing views on this matter, and there is uncertainty about what actions are legally permissible.

As this is a complex issue involving safety concerns, legal limitations and broader social considerations, we need to approach it with care and respect. We have therefore decided to provide residents with factual information to support our concerns, clarify the legal constraints, and outline practical steps we can take.

Observed Crime Patterns

Crime statistics from the past year reveal that approximately two to three times more of the incidents reported occurred on bin days than on other days of the week. Recent examples include:

• Theft of a bicycle from a property by a passer-by in December (Friday).
• A home invasion in Crofter’s Valley on 12 January (Monday, bin collection day in that area).
• An attempted assault on a woman on horseback by two men described as bin pickers near Docker’s Farm last week (Friday).

While these incidents do not establish that waste pickers were responsible, Fridays bring increased foot traffic through our neighbourhood at times when many properties are unattended. This may increase opportunities for criminal activity.

Additional concerns raised by residents include:

• Refuse bags being opened and contents left scattered.
• Individuals loitering in the area.
• Perceived increased vulnerability during early morning hours.

At the same time, many residents report respectful and constructive interactions with individuals who regularly collect recyclable materials. Some argue that waste picking provides income opportunities and contributes to recycling efforts.

Legal Position

The legal framework is not straightforward and places limits on what residents or neighbourhood watches may do.

• As long as refuse remains on private property, it is considered to belong to the resident or owner of that property. Residents or authorised security personnel may prevent the removal of items at that stage.
• Once refuse is placed on the street, it falls under the City’s waste management system.
• Under the City of Cape Town Integrated Waste Management By-law (2009), only the City or accredited contractors may collect, sort or recover waste. Individuals undertaking such activities are required to be registered.
• Waste picking from official bins and refuse bags on the street is therefore not permitted under the by-law.
• However, most related offences (such as sorting through refuse or creating a mess) do not qualify as serious criminal offences that entitle private citizens or non–peace officer security guards to make an arrest.
• Enforcing these by-laws falls primarily to City Law Enforcement and Metro Police. SAPS may assist but do not regard by-law enforcement as their primary function.
• There are also broader constitutional considerations relating to dignity, livelihood and vulnerable groups. Courts have previously ruled that livelihood rights must be weighed against property rights.

In practical terms, neither individual residents nor neighbourhood watches have the authority to remove people from the area unless there is a clear and immediate threat to safety.

Nevertheless, residents are encouraged to record and report any by-law contraventions to:

• City Law Enforcement: 0860 103 089
• Email: solidwaste.bylaw@capetown.gov.za

Engagement with Authorities

CPNW has raised these concerns with the Community Policing Forum (CPF), City Law Enforcement, Metro Police and SAPS.

We have been advised that enforcement capacity is constrained by staffing and overtime limitations. That said, SAPS visibility last Friday appeared to coincide with fewer reported concerns, and we will continue to request visible patrols on Fridays.

What Has Worked

Several street groups have developed local approaches that aim to reduce risk and minimise disruption. These include:

• Visible presence or informal monitoring on bin mornings.
• Prompt reporting of any suspicious behaviour to patrol officers.
• Engaging respectfully with known waste pickers and clarifying expectations.
• Separating recyclable items and making arrangements with specific individual bin pickers by residents who choose to.
• Minimising the amount of time bins remain on the street.
• Using bin locks (noting both advantages and limitations).

Of course, such approaches are voluntary and may not suit every street. We believe, however, that local coordination among neighbours offers a way to provide solutions without the need for broad positions that are potentially divisive and legally questionable.

Next Steps

The most practical approach appears to be coordinated local engagement supported by clear reporting to the relevant authorities.

Our shared objectives remain:

• A safe neighbourhood.
• Lawful conduct.
• Respectful engagement.
• Clear reporting to appropriate authorities.

We encourage street groups and neighbours to discuss what measures feel appropriate and workable in their immediate area.

To support this process:

• We will assist Connector Groups in facilitating discussions.
• We will establish a bin day WhatsApp group to share updates, information and reporting guidance.
• We will continue engaging with SAPS and City authorities regarding Friday visibility.

We ask that discussions on this topic be kept factual, measured and solution focused. By working together we can hopefully find sustainable solutions for safer Fridays in our lovely neighbourhood!

The CPNW Team

CPNW NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER 2025

Date posted: December 18, 2025

Dear Neighbours

(Welcome to this month’s newsletter…  Be warned, this is a long one, but we think it’s worth the read!)

Incidents

It has been a fairly quiet few months, crime-wise, but now is a good time to think carefully about security!

To date December and January have consistently been the two months with the highest crime stats, with at least four times as many incidents as other months in the year.

Since the last newsletter, we have only had one report of a further incident: the theft from an outbuilding on Pine St on the morning of 7 November, in which a weed eater, a woodwork clamp and a bicycle were taken.

AGM

Thank you to everyone who came to our AGM! For everyone who puts effort into CPNW, it is always good to feel the support of our members in person, and the good turnout was really appreciated. It was also great to see some new faces, and even better to hear of others who are interested in volunteering!

One of the things we in CPNW are really proud of is that anyone can participate, because our approach is so multidimensional. We are not (only) looking for “Rambo’s” but for people who can type, organise, work on data, do technical stuff, etc. With each person who gets involved, the tasks become smaller and we continue to make a tangible difference to life in our neighbourhood!  Interested members are always welcome to attend our monthly Committee Meetings, but we particularly invite you to join us at our first meeting of the new year, which will be held on Monday 12 January 2026 at 18h00.

We will be placing our AGM slides and minutes on the website, but as CPNW Chair and author of this newsletter, I’d like to make a few comments on various aspects of the report:

It felt respectful to open our meeting by observing the recent passing of two young people, an adolescent boy who was washed out to sea on the preceding weekend, and a young woman who was tragically murdered during a housebreaking in Fish Hoek two weeks before the meeting. Tragedies like these are always a shock, and they serve as solemn reminders that we should never stop thinking about ways to better look after each other’s safety.

This was our 19^th AGM since our foundation in 2007, and we began by acknowledging the contributions of everyone who has volunteered for CPNW, particularly our current committee members, including Brenda Scott, secretary and scribe, who has not only been scrupulous in record keeping, but also brought rigour to how we function.

Membership

As most people will know, our primary philosophy is that our security is founded in community. As such, we prioritise ensuring the broadest network possible in our area over any individual contribution or action by residents. So, membership requires simply joining up on our website if you live in the area. We hope you will use the website to share your needs, stay informed about neighbourhood crime prevention, and hopefully be convinced that supporting us through funding and participation is worthwhile.

Our most recent data suggests that our members now constitute over 80% of residents in the area. This is a figure we would like to maintain and increase, but maintaining an accurate database is surprisingly challenging, with significant flux throughout the area, particularly with rental properties. Unfortunately, people are not good at letting us know when they leave. If you are leaving the area or know of anyone who has recently left, please let us know! We could also improve efforts to bring new arrivals on board, and this is a crucial role we should all play as neighbours, particularly through the Connector Groups.

Crime Report

We had a total of 22 incidents since the last AGM, down slightly from last year (24 incidents), but higher than in 2023 (15) and in the Covid years 2020 (8) and 2021 (15). These figures are still a significant improvement on our early years, with over 7 incidents per month prior to 2007, and over 40 per year not unusual before Covid. Is this a hiatus? We are not sure, but the changing pattern of crime does suggest we are still having some impact.

Of most concern were two contact crimes: an attempted armed robbery in a home during daylight hours in February, and an incident on the Common when a mother and young child were accosted and threatened in an apparent attempt to rob them. Fortunately, rapid responses by community members and Armed Response Officers resulted in positive outcomes in both cases.

There were also 6 burglaries (theft involving breaking and entering) and 4 common thefts (removal of unsecured objects e.g. a bicycle in a garden).

Also high on the list this year were thefts from motor vehicles at the beach parking area, the Common and around the Red Herring Centre.

Importantly, 6 of these cases took place in December, which was by far the busiest month for crime.

Other important trends we noted were:

• We are now seeing twice as many incidents taking place during daylight hours, compared to at night.
• It appears that road access has become less viable for criminal acts, particularly at night, where any movement on many of our main roads attracts the immediate attention of patrol vehicles.
• Almost all burglaries and all common theft took place out of buildings or properties that were unprotected by alarm systems and unoccupied at the time of the robbery.
• There seems to be an increased use of off-road areas, such as public open space, greenbelts and boundaries, to enter and move through the neighbourhood and provide concealment.
• Most burglaries suggest that properties were observed prior to entry, with incursions timed to avoid the presence of residents.
• Criminals regularly use other traffic in the area, such as building activity, holidaymakers, and the Friday bin pickers, to provide both cover and opportunity.
• Incidents occur 2-3 times more often on a Friday than on any other day.
• Opportunistic crimes are also quite common, with a surprising number happening when gates, garages, cars and even homes are left open or unlocked. The armed robbery was a particularly sobering reminder to keep doors locked no matter how peaceful things seem.

Aside from the more obvious lessons this data teaches us about the need for vigilance, it also points to what I think will be our next challenge: how to monitor and protect areas that are either public property or unoccupied private property that is not easily observed from the roads.

Areas such as the Common, the Nature Sanctuary and various greenbelts and pathways, as well as the boundary areas between our area and the wetlands, mountain and beach, are all essential elements of this special neighbourhood, but also highly vulnerable to criminal activity.

They represent a substantial portion of our neighbourhood, but are difficult to patrol or monitor, even with cameras. They thus create spaces that criminals can use for surveillance and access. They are also prone to occupation by vagrants, with impacts on the ecosystem that bring further traffic. It is then critical that we continue to actively develop our stewardship of these areas, ideally whilst also enjoying the very rich recreational value they offer!

We are very grateful for the work done by so many volunteer groups under the collective leadership of the NRPA, to look after these collective spaces, particularly the larger ones, but also our roadsides and smaller pathways. As the famous broken window theory argues, keeping our areas clean, regularly used and free of rubbish sends the message that this neighbourhood is cared for, and there are eyes all over! It is a little more complicated with areas along our boundaries, and this is where we need neighbours to start communicating with one another about specific boundaries, using either existing Connector Groups or specific groups dedicated to monitoring an area along our border.

As a committee, we will assist with support and resources, but natural environments are far more complex and varied than the average road intersection, so decisions about how best to monitor them are more dependent on local knowledge. Acquiring that knowledge ourselves, by actively inhabiting these spaces, becomes crucial.

Cameras

We are extremely proud of the camera systems we have developed. We owe much gratitude for the hard work involved, particularly from Patrick Wright, who has driven this project, closely supported by Craig Botha and more recently Chris Gippert.

As mentioned, we feel these cameras have significantly reduced night-time incursions. But this impact is also reflected by the reduction in vehicle-borne crime in the area, which also tends to be of a more serious nature. We have two camera systems in place in the neighbourhood: the Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) system and CCTV cameras.

Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) Cameras

The LPR system covers all entrances to Chapman’s Peak and uses iTrack and Navic software to identify suspicious vehicles via a local and central database. Messages are sent out to security companies and responders whenever a suspicious vehicle enters the area.

CCTV Cameras

We currently have 63 CCTV cameras on our network, including a powerful pan, tilt and zoom camera which constantly scans the beach area. This is now monitored by the Deep Blue Security Operations Centre in Hout Bay. In addition, we have introduced a “Virtual Patrol System” that operates after dark to detect and record movement, sending alerts directly to the armed response vehicles.

We have also installed new cameras overlooking parking areas in response to the vehicle break-ins.

A significant portion of our revenue is devoted to the development and maintenance of the camera networks. We are fortunately able to outsource all camera setup and maintenance work, but we urgently need volunteers to assist with monitoring the system and coordinating this work!

Connector Groups

A connector group is a small, less formal, WhatsApp group of close neighbours, each co-ordinated by a “Connector Administrator”, who in turn has direct contact with Committee Representatives Lynne Hogan and Matt Coquillon.

The basic idea of these groups is to promote security through neighbourliness by encouraging communication and feedback, mutual support and collaboration. We have 34 WhatsApp connector groups at present, with some quite large ones, which tend to become cumbersome.

We also welcome the establishment of smaller, local interest-based groups. We feel that these groups serve as the “lifeblood” of our community, bringing us together across our fences. Please contact Lynne Hogan if you wish to join a group or start one!

The CPNW Radio Users Network

Although activity on this network has declined with the reduction in incidents, particularly at night, it remains an effective tool in the event of emergencies, particularly during the fire season. Our records show there are currently 181 hand-held radios in the CPNW area, but it is unclear how many of these are still in operation.

This network is supported by a WhatsApp Group that remains a useful communication tool.

We will be announcing a few radio checks soon. Please join in and check your radio before you need it in a crisis!

Importantly, as radios here are specifically tuned to this area, they need to be reprogrammed for use elsewhere if you relocate. We therefore generally encourage transferring them to the incoming residents, but licences then need to be updated. Please contact Karen MacIntyre if your licence needs updating!

This project could really use assistance for the simple admin task of keeping track of radios and licences. Also, if anyone has some knowledge of radio operation, another radio coordinator or two would be most helpful!

Chapman’s Peak Rapid Response Team (CPRT)

It has been a quiet time for our response team this year, and we are due for a review. However, we feel confident that we can call on these individuals at short notice, as was evident with the armed robbery this year when responders rapidly appeared. We will shortly be calling on members to reconvene.

Media and Communications

We try to  engage via a wide range of communication and media channels, including via email and our website: (www.cpnw.org.za); via Facebook: Noordhoek Community Forum, and on WhatsApp Groups: Radio Users Group, CPRT, CPNW Committee and Connector Groups.

We have also started posting regular security tips and reminders on flyers that people can put up in their homes. Most recently we have produced a number of fridge magnet flyers (Click here for the PDF) which were made available at the AGM and can now be collected by members from Oshun at the Red Herring Centre. Please take some for your neighbours but tell them they need to become members (for FREE – just go on the website).

We are very grateful to Andy Power for the new rigour she has brought to our recording of incidents and her great creative energy when it comes to our communications efforts. We are also thankful for Rob Mousley and Patrick Wright’s management of social media channels, and to Gwen Hewett for faithfully editing our newsletters!

Generally, it has been good to see a growing level of consciousness in how people participate on social media. We ask members to be careful and respectful, and to adhere to the following principles:

• Don’t spread unverified information.
• Don’t share photographs of people without their consent.
• Be very sensitive about your language use.
• Be very discerning between what is FACT and what is merely reported.

Beach Parking

To ensure better security in the Beach Parking area we have developed a semi-formalised relationship with 3 car guards. They have been provided with free Wi-Fi via the Team House and courtesy of Wibernet, which allows them direct contact with the patrol vehicles.

They have also been provided with reflective jackets that carry a CPNW endorsement and are embossed with QR codes to enable cashless payment via a system we set up for them. We have seen a decline in car break-ins at the beach car park, but there is still a problem when the guards are not on duty. We do have cameras in place too, but visibility is a little obscured by the parking lot trees, so it makes sense at quiet times to park in the front row, or off the lane closest to the houses.

We were recently made aware of concerns regarding the behaviour of at least one of the car guards. This was raised with them, and we have made it clear that further incidents will not be tolerated.

Bin Days

As was evident in the Crime Report, bin days remain a peak time for crime.

This is despite a much better effort by everyone to ensure bins are not put out overnight. Thank You! Although we recognise that some people are very sincere in their efforts to earn money from recycling efforts, others are more opportunistic, or use those looking into bins as cover, and some simply make a mess.

This is clearly a complex problem, and we are not likely to find a satisfactory solution without a lot of effort and participation from anyone who cares about this! On the one hand, we are awaiting feedback from the city on the validity of a legal argument that bins are private property, and if marked as such, only the owner and council workers may legally open them; anyone else could be liable for arrest, or removal from the area.

Aside from the dubious practicality and small likelihood of support from law enforcement, such a plan would seem quite heartless and insular, if we made it entirely impossible for anyone to make use of what we throw away.

Ultimately this is a problem that needs our deeper attention! Is there a way we can bring more safety to the situation and provide support to those who need it? There was an interesting discussion at the AGM about exactly what bin-pickers seem to value, with some surprising information. It was evident from the discussion that the more we develop an understanding of this, the closer we can get to a solution that suits everyone.

Once again, this is an area where a bit of research and brainstorming by interested neighbours could add a whole new layer to our collective safety!

SAPS and Community Policing Forum (CPF) Liaison

We have good relationships with SAPS and the CPF. It has been good to see the reignition of community liaison efforts by SAPS this year, with an increase in outreach efforts, and we continue to keep them informed of our initiatives and particular concerns.

We are very grateful to Sven ten Bokkel Huinink for volunteering to take on the role of Liaison with SAPS and the CPF, which can involve considerable time in meetings!

Security Companies

As recorded in the minutes, we have had mixed results in our relationships with ADT and Deep Blue (DBS), with a few frustrations in terms of ADT’s  communication with us and participation in CPF structures. DBS, on the other hand, still has inferior numbers and remains reluctant to commit more resources, at least until it has grown its customer base.

They have, however, been very active in terms of camera monitoring, support with donated cameras, and involvement with the CPF Joint Security Meetings. We appreciate the work Sean Moolenschot puts into liaising with the security companies!

Fire

We are fortunate to accommodate Volunteer Wildfire Services at the NCC, which has made our own volunteer fire team somewhat redundant, but we continue to recognise that fires remain a key threat. Our committee is also very lucky to have a recognised authority on firefighting and fire prevention, Tessa Olivier, to keep us in touch with all things fire-related!

As we are reaching the peak of the fire season, we urge everyone to remember to review fire safety measures in and around the home, such as dry vegetation near buildings, gutters filled with leaves and the availability of fire extinguishers and water.

We ask residents who live near the locations of fire hydrants to check these: (locations as per map)

Please make sure it is clearly marked, accessible and easy to open, and the coupling is clean and clear of debris. As those of us who have been here during previous fires, you do want a working hydrant near your home when a fire is nearby! If hydrants need repair please report them to the City via the online portal   www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests, on the MyCapeTown Fault Reporting App or send a WhatsApp to 060 018 1505.

The Noordhoek Community Centre (NCC)

The NCC, once a derelict crime hazard before CPNW received the lease 10 years ago, has been transformed into a well-used community resource, with the income it generates paying for its upkeep and ongoing renovation, and proving an important funding stream for security projects. We are hugely grateful to Karen MacIntyre for the vast amount of hard work she puts into this! We are also very pleased to have received and accepted an offer from the City to extend our lease for a further 10 years!

Financial Report

We are in a solid financial position, made possible by member donations and income from the NCC. We have established a money market account to hold surplus funds, which have accumulated despite our regular spending on cameras. Based on past experience, we have learned that it is very useful to keep a “war chest” for emergencies, as was needed in the past during spates of home invasions or beach crimes. We thank Geoff Young for his services as treasurer.

“New” Committee

It has to be said that our process of appointing a new CPNW Committee more closely resembled a press-ganging than a fiercely contested election!

However, with enormous gratitude, I can announce that everyone on the existing committee has agreed to stay on for another year. Although this has generally been the case for a while now, we do seem to be getting one or two new volunteers for tasks each year too. Sitting in on a meeting does seem a better way of bringing people in, so we reiterate our invitation to those who did offer to help, and anyone else who might be interested in helping or bringing something to our attention, to attend our next committee meeting.

• First Committee Meeting for 2026: 12 January at 18h00 at the NCC.

Provisional dates for meetings thereafter are as follows: 09 Feb / 09 Mar / 13 Apr / 11 May / 08 Jun /13 Jul / 10 Aug / 14 Sep / 12 Oct / 09 Nov / 14 Dec.

We meet at 1800 at the Community Centre and try to keep our meetings as short as possible, mostly getting home well before 19h30. It would be wonderful to have you there!

Finally, we would like to wish everyone a safe holiday season and a wonderful 2026!

Please do remember this is also CRIME and FIRE season:

Keep your homes secure!

Alert your visitors!

Let your neighbours know when you are going away!

The CPNW Committee

CPNW NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2025

Date posted: October 21, 2025

Dear Neighbours

Since our last CPNW newsletter in July it has been relatively quiet in terms of crime, with just two incidents reported in August and none since.

Crime Incidents

In the first case, a vehicle was broken into between 5 and 6 am on Friday 8 August. Unfortunately, a bag containing a significant amount of cash, which had been inadvertently left in the cubbyhole, was taken. CCTV footage around this time showed a male on a bicycle exiting the area with what looked like the bag of cash, but no suspect has been apprehended.

In what seemed a rather frightening incident, on 25 August, a mother and three-year-old child walking on the common were accosted by two women and a man, all three of whom were apparently heavily intoxicated. They had reportedly entered the common from a side street on seeing the mother and child, and approached them shouting and swearing threateningly, seeking anything of value.

Fortunately, passers-by came to assist the mother and child while a Deep Blue Security Patrol Officer managed to detain two of the perpetrators, who were then removed from the area. The third fled and was not seen again.

We hope this latter incident was an isolated one, and that the rapid response sent the message that our neighbourhood is well protected. But it again raises the issue of safety in public open spaces in a country with a growing crime rate. As a community with such large open spaces, both within and on our boundaries, we need to understand that embracing our role in the stewardship of these places will allow us to enjoy them so much more. The more we actively inhabit our natural and recreational areas, and the more we respect and nurture them as extensions of our homes and neighbourhood, the safer and more pleasant living here becomes.

Stewards of the Environment

This not only involves supporting the many groups who work to keep these spaces beautiful, whether through funding, collecting rubbish on a beach walk or picking up after your dog; it also means noticing those who use these spaces, acknowledging one another without being intrusive, and immediately reporting any concerns that may arise.

These spaces are in many ways a barometer of our safety, as they can so quickly turn into places we fear and avoid, particularly as the urban population grows and safe open spaces become scarcer. So, we all have a role to play in looking after them and looking out for one another when using them, particularly during the summer months as they become more populated.

Please help to set a good example by keeping areas pollution free and encouraging others to do the same through your own behaviour and mutual support.

Cameras and Car Guards

Although we cannot possibly cover all these areas with cameras or regular patrols, we are steadily increasing camera coverage of the various parking areas around the common. Furthermore, our initiative to support the beach car guards – who now wear CPNW-endorsed reflective vests that carry their QR-codes thanks to committee member Sean Moolenschoot – seems to have borne fruit.

We are pleased to report that Marlon has recovered well after a health scare, and we are grateful to everyone who offered additional support!

Information for Visitors

Following on from the last newsletter and our appeals to inform visitors of how our community works together, committee member Andy Power has created a flyer that can be given out to guests staying in the area, highlighting the security measures we recommend, safety issues, and practices such as not leaving bins out overnight. It also includes a broad list of emergency numbers. We hope these will be distributed widely to visitors in the coming extended holiday seasons. The aim is to increasingly bring on board all who stay here, even if only briefly, to contribute to the supportive, special community we have all worked so hard to develop!

Committee

We were delighted this month to welcome Sven ten Bokkel Huinink back onto the committee after a long absence. Sven was one of the founding forces behind CPNW back in 2004-2005, and we are delighted that he has now volunteered to act as our CPOF and SAPS Liaison Officer.

WhatsApp Groups

In other matters related to community, it has been pleasing to see how the Noordhoek Community WhatsApp Groups have flourished since being put together under a single “Noordhoek Community” banner! This has really contributed to general awareness about all the good things people do in our neighbourhood and how we can support them, and it has certainly strengthened the Connector Groups.

We are very grateful to Patrick Wright for all the work he does on communications in the Valley, as well as countless other tasks! It is also good to see how we are all learning to work more collaboratively in these groups with a greater understanding of aspects such as social media etiquette, and the limitations of what can be posted when it comes to matters related to the law.

Community Centre

Other good news community-wise is that we have just signed a renewed lease from the City for the Noordhoek Community Centre (NCC) for another 10-year period. Aside from being able to retain this valuable community asset, the centre forms an important part of our revenue stream.

This not only allows us to continually upgrade and maintain the centre, but also to continually upgrade our security assets, such as the camera network. Thank you in particular to Karen McIntyre for all the work she puts into the successful management of the NCC!

AGM – Mark the Date!

Finally, it is AGM time again! We would like to invite you all to join us for our AGM, to be held on 17 November 18h30 for 19h00, followed by a short get-together around the braai. We keep it as brief and to-the-point as possible, so it is never a very late night! Please do set aside the time to join us! We really value your support, not only because it is nice to know our work is seen and appreciated, but also because the more every single neighbour acts in unison, the safer we all are, and the less the hard work lands on a few individuals.

Long in the Tooth!

With some committee members having now served for over 20 years, we are getting rather tired and long in the tooth.

Please do take cognisance of the fact that we, and other community stalwarts, will not be able to keep going forever. But we also don’t want things to slide into some kind of Mexican Standoff, where good things that have taken years to build are allowed to deteriorate to where they were before many of us realised we had no choice but to stand up and do something! It has been heartening to see some really strong and energetic members joining the committee in the past few years.

But we also need others to simply do a little bit of work every month, or to learn and ultimately take over just one small aspect of what has to be a broad and multipronged strategy if it is to succeed. A key principle we try to maintain in CPNW, (also partly responsible for the lack of newsletters in recent months) is that CPNW work must be sustainable in all of our lives.

This is how keeping our neighbourhood safe should be – just a natural and convenient part of our lives! The more you join to help us with that, the less work for us all.

Looking forward to seeing you on 17 November!

The CPNW Committee.

CPNW NEWSLETTER – JULY 2025

Date posted: July 21, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

Crime Update

So far, we have had a typically quiet winter crime-wise, with just one incident to report since our last newsletter (1 June).

This involved the theft of a motor-vehicle wheel from a garden in Acacia Avenue. Deep Blue (DBS) dispatched a patrol vehicle after their control room spotted a person running with a car wheel down Acacia at 5:08 am on 13 June (a Friday morning). The suspect, reportedly looking as though he was living rough, was apprehended and turned over to SAPS. The owner was identified via CPNW and the tyre returned.

Evidence from camera footage suggests that the suspect entered the area from the wetlands, possibly through a gap that had been formed in the fence that blocks access from the wetlands at the bottom of Acacia Avenue. It is notable that slightly earlier the previous Friday morning, the same patrol vehicle had identified individuals walking in Acacia Avenue and escorted them from the area.

We are pleased to see that the fence has now been repaired!

Bin Nights

This once again highlights how human traffic through our area still increases on bin nights, and whilst this seems primarily associated with relatively petty crime, any crime is too much, as the “Broken Windows” philosophy suggests that addressing small crimes helps keep out big crime.

We are confident that after-dark activity in our streets has significantly reduced on bin nights, and that genuine recyclers seem to understand and respect our approach and have little reason to enter our streets in the dark when our bins are in any case not available to them.

Unfortunately, as with any change in habitual behaviour, it will take time before nobody in the neighbourhood puts out bins on Thursday nights. However, a little perseverance to inform visitors and new residents and to encourage or even help those who can’t easily put bins out on Friday mornings (taking a second bin out isn’t terribly taxing), could make it something nobody does!

Close Your Gates!

A related concern the Security Companies have raised with us is gates being left open. Whether a heavily fortified security gate or a simple one in a garden fence, when left open, it signals vulnerability, a weakened boundary that is easier to transgress, a signal that you are off-guard.

We recently tried to bring attention to this by distributing a security reminder. But the feedback from members was that we had mostly been preaching to the converted, and that it is usually visitors and guests who tend to leave gates open (and bins out)!

Challenges

This points to a growing challenge we face in our lovely neighbourhood: its beauty (and wonderful community) makes it an increasingly desirable place to visit. This is resulting in a boom in rentals, BnBs and local businesses, which although positive, can also threaten the essence of the neighbourhood.

To counter this, we all need to actively ensure that we promote our ethos of protecting our neighbourhood (not simply from crime) to everyone who comes here. We thus intend to develop a list of security tips for visitors, and we encourage everyone, not only landlords and BnB owners, to make a point of informing newcomers, visitors and guests about neighbourhood safety, and to consider connecting them whilst they are in the area to a local Connector Group.

Beach Car Guards

Also critical to visitor safety in our area are the beach car guards, whose presence is a proven deterrent against the break-ins and lock-jamming incidents that were becoming increasingly regular, but have since only occurred when the car guards are not present. As many will know, we provided the car guards with ID cards and QR scans last summer, which was very helpful in securing their income in an increasingly cashless environment.

The winter months, however, have been a real struggle for them and we are very grateful to those who do support them individually, and to those who responded to our appeal to assist! This can be done by visiting our website and opening the “Car Guards” tab. Payment can then be made by either scanning the QR codes for each car guard on the website, or clicking on the photos of the guards or QR codes, which will take you to a range of payment options.

A payment provides codes that are sent to the car guards by SMS for vouchers that are redeemable at Pick n Pay and various other outlets. We also, in the last week agreed to a R1000 donation to each guard from CNPW, for which they were extremely thankful.

Hopefully we can steadily develop more comprehensive ways of supporting these gentlemen, as we really do need them in our car park!

NRPA AGM

The NRPA AGM on 11 June demonstrated once again how lucky we are as a community to have such strong organisational leadership. The amount of work done by the NRPA, and in particular its chairperson and committee members, is hugely impressive, and we have no doubt that our safety and security is directly related to how well we work as a community.

The NRPA continues to explore innovative solutions to the many challenges we have as a growing community, and we look forward to beautifully designed beach toilets and bus stops, and so much more that will go towards preserving the wonderful way of life we have here. Please support them by joining at:

https://nrpa.org.za/about/register/

We hope everyone stays warm and safe for the rest of the winter!!

CPNW NEWSLETTER – MAY 2025

Date posted: June 1, 2025

Dear Neighbours

In Memoriam – Brad Bing

It was with deep sadness that we received the news of Brad Bing’s passing. His immense contribution to building our community, both locally and at a broader level, has been inspirational. Brad really understood the value of community and was prepared to step up and make things work with enthusiasm and grace.

Through his leadership roles in the NRPA, as an active and supportive member of CPNW and in many other ways, he contributed enormously to all our lives. He will be well remembered and sorely missed.

Crime Update

Since our last newsletter (almost two months ago – apologies!), we have had four incidents in the area, all involving breaking-and-entering, mostly using similar methods.

The first took place in Willoughby Drive on the Friday night between 4 and 5 April. The perpetrator got in over a locked gate, broke into a toolbox and used the tools to force open a garage door. A high-value black mountain bike was stolen.

A second incident took place in Willoughby Drive on the night of 16 April on an unoccupied property surrounded by a fence and locked gate. The gate motor was removed and a window taken off its hinges to gain entry into the house and garage, where the interleading door was also broken open. A substantial amount was stolen, including ski jackets, a sound system, camcorder, speakers, three laptops, approximately 100 metres of electrical cable and various other electrical goods.

The property is currently under renovation, and investigation is in process to ascertain whether anyone involved with the building activity may have be involved. The property had no security service in place, but the owners have now engaged services to monitor the site, and they will also be joining CPNW.

On 1 May, a break-in occurred at another unoccupied property under renovation in Cardinal Close. This is reportedly the second incident on this property during daylight hours in the past two months. The property is enclosed by a tall fence, suggesting that the suspect(s) may have scaled the fence to gain entry and then forcibly opened a garage, which had been specifically reinforced shut. At the time of reporting it remained unclear what had been stolen, as a collection of building supplies being stored in the garage appeared mostly undisturbed. This was also the case on the previous occasion where a number of window and door frames had been left piled against a tree-stump outside. This property owner is also now engaging a security service provider and joining CPNW.

We were also informed of a break-in at Jake’s Restaurant on 21 April after the restaurant was closed. A window lock was forcibly “popped” to gain access. It is unclear why the alarms were not triggered, and security services are investigating this. Electronic goods were stolen but the exact amount was not confirmed at the time of reporting. We are hoping Jake’s will soon join CPNW!

All these incidents suggest prior surveillance, planning, and then quite brazen activity once the initial layers of security were breached. As such, they reveal our vulnerabilities and remind us that inevitably, malevolent eyes will be out taking note of what we do. Locked gates are no longer enough. We need multiple layers of security, including alarms that are monitored and alert neighbours. We also need to make people aware of what is happening on our properties, including activities that increase human traffic in the area. As importantly, we need to engage with new neighbours, especially prospective ones who are building, to ensure they are aware of security risks and how we cooperate as a community to address them.

Mugging

In a most concerning report, we were informed of the mugging of a female runner at 7 am on the Noordhoek beach end of Chapmans Peak Drive on April 12. She was not seriously harmed but her phone and watch were taken. Camera footage revealing details of the vehicle the assailants were travelling in has been handed to the authorities.

We have not heard of any further attacks, so hopefully this was an isolated incident, but it certainly makes the case for care and vigilance.

Incident Notifications

In the wake of some of the recent events, we received some queries as to why we hadn’t circulated news of these on connector groups. Our policy is to circulate alerts when we believe there is an urgent message regarding action people need to take, but not to routinely send information on every incident. This is partly to protect the privacy of victims (we do not disclose street numbers, for example).

We also believe it is critical to verify such information before we release it. In future, however, we will place information on the WhatsApp groups once it is verified, but still withhold personal details as much as possible.

Wildfire

We are sure everyone shared our relief after favourable wind conditions kept the recent fire away from most of our boundaries!

The situation was less secure for our CPNW members in Danieldale, particularly in Willowfield Road, who were more directly threatened as the fire came down the slopes of Silvermine. Fortunately, the fire was well contained with no serious damage to property, and no injuries. We are particularly grateful to Chris Gippert and other volunteers from those areas who were instrumental in monitoring the situation and coordinating responses.

It was also good to note the prompt activation of our radio networks and a reasonable level of preparedness for such an emergency. Of course, there are always things to improve on, and we are grateful to the NRPA for reviewing the fire response and engaging with the City and Province in this regard.

This fire has hopefully reminded us all just how vulnerable our area is to fire, and why we need to regularly consider fire hazards in the area. Fortunately, the rain now seems to be back, and we should have some grace before the next fire season. Let’s use this time to clear out those fire hazards and ensure readiness for the next time around!

Pothole Alert

Residents may have noticed that there seems to be a larger crop of potholes in the roads than normal; one resident counted over fifty in the Chapman’s peak area!

Please inform the city by logging service requests here:

https://eservices1.capetown.gov.za/coct/wapl/zsreq_app/index.html

If we all log the ones in our street, those fifty+ holes may be seen to sooner rather than later.

Wishing everyone a safe and warm start to the winter months!

The CPNW Committee

CPNW: Please Help Us Keep the Area Safe – Bin Reminder

Date posted: March 25, 2025

CPNW NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2025

Date posted: March 25, 2025

Dear Neighbours,

Crime Incidents

We have two incidents to report since our last newsletter, both of which, by their brazen nature, serve as solid reminders of how vigilant we need to be.

On the morning of 24 February, at approximately 03h00, a Toyota Yaris in Disa Road was had three of its tyres removed.

On 26 January at about 12h15, a resident in Erica Street was working in an upstairs room when he was disturbed by two intruders in a downstairs room attempting to remove the television. Although both were armed with knives, he managed to raise the alarm and chase them outside.

The prompt response of neighbours, the security companies and members of our rapid response team resulted in the apprehension of one suspect by a Deep Blue AR Officer, the recovery of the TV, and a thorough search for the other.

Regarding the first incident, it is concerning that the removal of three tyres from a vehicle, whilst it was balancing on rocks, can escape notice, even in the early hours! We have communicated our concerns to the security companies, and whilst there is no direct camera coverage where the vehicle was parked, we were surprised at the lack of vehicle movement around this time.

This raises the possibility of criminals remaining in the area after dark, or entering the area on foot, hiding goods, and using the cover of daytime traffic to get the goods out.

Over the years we have noticed potential associations between small crime surges and building work taking place. This seems to be the case in this instance and in fairly recent reports of burglaries on Beach Road, but would be hard to prove.

More importantly, we need to realise that any business that brings traffic and particularly casual workers into the neighbourhood brings some element of risk. As a community we need to continue trying to mitigate this risk through various means, but we will always need to remain vigilant and realistic about the continuous threat of crime in the society we live in.

Home Invasion

This is immediately implicit in the second incident, where the house was entered via unlocked doors. Descriptions of the perpetrators suggest this was an opportunistic event involving the kind of desperate and rough-living characters who roam through the neighbourhood from time to time.

Their easy access to the property was compounded when the homeowner pressed his panic button, only to have his wife, who was out at the time, assume there couldn’t possibly be anything wrong in the middle of the day and cancel the call out!!

Alert Neighbours

Fortunately, alert neighbours did respond and it was heartening to see how quickly people organised themselves into an effective spur-of-the-moment response! We are very grateful to all who got involved, and even more pleased that several radio holders went on to do checks that evening without the coordination of a controller.

This ability to respond organically as a community is perhaps our strongest asset. Nevertheless, we have come to enjoy relative security in our area, and many of us treasure the ability to keep our homes open to our wonderful natural surroundings, which poses risks. So, we all need to develop the habit of thinking about concentric circles of safety around ourselves and our homes, beginning with immediate personal safety and expanding to how we manage general access at broader levels.

Border Vulnerability

With the latter in mind, we have been paying particular attention to the borders of our area on the Chapmans Peak side, which primarily involve properties adjoining Chapman’s Peak Rd itself or an area of Public Open Space below the road. Exploration of the area has revealed an alarming number of properties with open access from above. Clearly this has been used as an entry point, not only for a number of burglaries but also for at least one home invasion in the past, with the road above forming an ideal escape route.

We are hopeful that the new development will provide significant camera coverage of more of the road, but this border needs a concerted effort if we are to eliminate it as a risk to the entire area. A first step would be for property owners to secure their borders with fencing, or at least some clear delineation and camera coverage. We are currently trying to contact all the relevant property owners, whom we hope to motivate collectively to assist us in finding a joint solution.

Bin-Pickers

We are again noticing what may be more of an influx of homeless people, and particularly the increase in numbers of ‘bin-pickers’ with some less-familiar faces. Linked to this we have noticed a resurgence of bins in the road on Thursday nights before collection.

We achieved a significant reduction in crime incidents on Thursdays and Fridays after our concerted effort to encourage everyone to only put bins out in the morning. The issue of ‘bin-pickers’ and also homeless people in our area is complex. We do not believe we can legally or practically prevent people entering the area or even sorting through our rubbish. However, we can engage with them, liaise with our security companies to monitor suspect individuals, report any form of settlement (Land invasion Hotline: 021 480 7700, Homeless Persons Hotline: 0800 87 2201), and limit reasons for people to enter the area.

Key to the latter is ensuring that properties are well secured, that ‘easy pickings’ are not left in the open and that all our bins are kept in at night! In aid of this, we have prepared a short and polite message we hope members will print out at home and stick onto any bins left out overnight! We are sure the odd bin will pop up every now and then, and hope this is a nice way to inform less-connected neighbours and bring them into the circle!

Red Herring Cameras

We are delighted to announce the establishment of an extensive camera network at the Red Herring Centre, which we hope will significantly improve vehicle safety in the area and deter more serious crime. All funded by the various businesses and the centre, they include overview cameras covering the intersections of Beach Rd with Mountain and Pine Rds. This adds significantly to our general monitoring capacity, particularly access to Mountain Rd, and we thank everyone at the Red Herring Centre for their contribution and involvement as part of our community!

Fire Risks

We are also pleased to report that fire surveillance cameras in the area have also been upgraded, allowing for quicker detection and response. This comes at a time when fire risks are particularly high and a number of cases of suspected arson have been reported. So, if you have not already done so, now is a good time to reduce fuel loads around your house!!

Community Involvement

A continual challenge we face, along with all community organisations, is the challenge of community involvement and participation. The irony with neighbourhood security is that an increased investment of time and resources by some individuals that succeeds in reducing crime then disincentivises participation by others! In the Chapman’s Peak area we have exceptional levels of participation in a range of efforts, spearheaded by several exceptional organisations.

Nevertheless, and particularly for anyone who has been a victim of crime, we are painfully aware of how much more could be done. The relationships we have with our armed response (AR) company partners and our collective bargaining approach with them is fundamental to this. But it is highly dependent on membership numbers, and both companies regularly protest that the current numbers do not justify the resources they dedicate to our area. Our data shows that almost 75% of residents are CPNW members, with 80% also employing a security company.

Our most reliable source of income, as CPNW, comes from a voluntary surcharge of R30 collected by the security companies each month and handed over to us, which, according to our agreements with the companies, is offered to residents when they sign up. Currently however, we only receive remittances from about 50% of AR Company customers in the area.

We would therefore be grateful if those who would like to support us financially (or who assume that this is happening), please check that this payment is being made (it should be noted on your invoices) and either take steps to rectify it or make an equivalent annual contribution to CPNW. We gratefully acknowledge those who already do so, including many members who do not have AR.

Freeloaders!

Whilst the numbers may sound relatively good, they do suggest that one out of every three residences in the area does not employ an AR service, and one in four is totally reliant on vicarious protection from the efforts of their neighbours! Most importantly, if we could get the investment of that ‘missing’ one third of our community, we would be guaranteed significantly more resources than what we are constantly battling to retain. Of course, in putting out this message in a CPNW newsletter or at our AGM we are basically preaching to the converted, and while we always encourage everyone to ‘sign up a neighbour’, the real ‘freeloaders’ will continue to benefit whilst undermining what we could otherwise achieve.

City Improvement District Initiative

A potential solution to this, which has been raised before, is the establishment of a City Improvement District (CID) in our area. This would involve all residents in the area paying a surcharge on rates, which is then spent on such things as security and public safety measures, cleansing services, maintenance of infrastructure, environmental initiatives, social interventions or any other services the community might require.

An initiative to do this for the whole of Noordhoek was launched in 2021 with the support of the NRPA, but it eventually ran aground despite the hard work of members of the steering committee. A particular obstruction in that process was achieving the required mandate of 60% of residents, something that CPNW may be uniquely placed to achieve in our neighbourhood, given our existing membership figures. The CID Committee would need to be established as an NPO, and expenditure would be determined by an annual Business Plan presented for approval at its AGM. Further information about CIDs can be found on the City’s Website at:

https://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/residential-property-and-houses/private-properties/city-improvement-districts

This would clearly be a major undertaking, which might substantially change the face of CPNW, as well as of other community initiatives in the area, but if successful, might be a logical ‘next step’ in our community’s development. We would love to hear your thoughts on this! So please let us know how you feel by reply to this email!

Please Update Your Contact Details

Lastly, in terms of keeping our data accurate: If you have sold your house and moved out of the area, or if you have changed residences within Chapman’s Peak, or if you have new tenants, please could you let Karen know by emailing her at: membership@cpnw.org.za. She faces a constant battle to keep our membership information up to date!

As we greet the first signs of rain and cooler weather, we wish everyone a wonderful and safe autumn!

The CPNW Committee.

Stolen Car Badges

Date posted: February 7, 2025

A collection of car badges, stolen in Noordhoek, has been recovered.  Please contact us if any of them belong to you and you would like them back!