News

CPNW NEWSLETTER AND AGM REPORT – JANUARY 2024

Date posted: January 2, 2024

CPNW NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2023

Date posted: October 18, 2023

Dear Neighbours,

Bin Nights and Incidents

As many will know, we have had a series of further incidents on the nights before bin collections, and we are putting considerable energy into addressing the related issues.

On the evening of Thursday 28 September, as usual, significant numbers of people were observed entering the neighbourhood and searching through bins and recycling bags that had already been put out. Whilst walking her dog, a resident noticed that one of these individuals was carrying a large knife, acting somewhat erratically, and showing more interest in her, than in any of the bins, before disappearing into the Nature Sanctuary area next to the Brewery. She was sufficiently concerned to report the matter on Buzzer.

In the early hours of Friday morning (29/09), an aluminium extension ladder was stolen from a house in Heldray Avenue, and a light fitting and cable was removed from a house in Lindum Close. Private security cameras revealed that the latter theft was committed by someone dressed in a reflective orange jacket, typical of those worn by many who search through bins.

Throughout our time as CPNW, the hours of darkness between Thursdays and Fridays have seen substantially more incidents than any other period. Dealing with this challenge is no simple matter, as both the causes and possible solutions are more complex than simply securing our property.

We are also aware of a range of views and a degree of polarisation on how best to respond to this issue, and we also understand that not everything we suggest will be convenient for everyone. However, we are certain of a few things:

• This problem can be solved.
• Solving it will take collective action and everyone’s involvement.
• Not solving it will result in increasing numbers of outsiders entering the area after dark.
• This will give rise to a range of associated problems including littering, squatting and crime.
• We will continue to see an increase in incidents on “bin nights”.
• Unchecked increases in criminal incidents in our area tend to escalate in both frequency and severity.

Challenges

This is a problem we have often grappled with in past years. For most of us, it is easier to put bins out the evening before collection. Mornings tend to be rushed, we forget, collections are sometimes earlier than expected, or we simply sleep too late.

Some have argued for simply banning bin-pickers from the area or laying charges against them for touching the bins (which are private property), for littering, or for stealing shopping trolleys. Others plead the case of desperate but honest individuals forced to pick through our waste as their only alternative to crime, and the benefits of the recycling work they do.

Considerations

When grappling with these issues, there are a few considerations to bear in mind:

• We have no automatic legal right to prevent non-residents from entering our neighbourhood or to remove them from the area.
• While charging individuals for investigating bins is technically possible, in practice it is beyond our capacity (each individual bin owner would need to lay a charge) and that of our justice system.
• Addressing trolley theft may be more feasible but would not solve the bigger problem.
• Unfortunately, most of the suggested “solutions” persecute individuals who are not here to steal but are simply trying to survive. Some of these individuals are also invested in fighting more serious crime.

CPNW’s Approach

The above points have informed our current approach, which is as follows:

• We try to identify and engage with individuals who enter the area with the legitimate aim of finding and salvaging recyclable/reusable items.
• We encourage them to only enter the area during daylight hours, to keep things tidy, and to alert us to suspicious activity.
• We engage with the security companies operating in the area about “Bin Night”, highlighting the challenges we face on “bin nights”. Based on the assumption that picking through bins in the dark is a futile exercise, we request them to investigate individuals found in the area after dark, and in cases where they cannot demonstrate a legitimate purpose for their presence, to escort them to our boundaries.
• We have arranged for community volunteers to do vehicle patrols for a few consecutive Thursday nights, whilst a few dedicated volunteers also carry out more covert patrolling.
• We have made it our goal to permanently end the practice of leaving bins and recycling bags outside overnight, ideally before December of this year.

Please Don’t Leave Bins Out Overnight!

On the last point, we recognise and deeply appreciate the extra effort this requires from everyone. It does mean getting up earlier, getting into a new routine, speaking about this to neighbours and perhaps helping with someone else’s bin if they cannot do it in the morning.

We believe, however, that this effort is relatively small when compared to dealing with a serious outbreak of crime and all the resulting problems from the continued ingress of a range of desperate people into our area on Thursday evenings. If anyone feels a strong need to support bin-pickers as a form of charity, perhaps they could consider setting up an informal recycling depot at the boundary of our area where we could all drop items.

Our view is that we can solve this issue provided everyone gets involved. Naturally, there are those who seem oblivious to the existence of CPNW (perhaps even to the idea of community). And inevitably a few independent-minded individuals may simply resist this group effort in principle, while others may resist because they feel they have better solutions. One fairly strong argument is that more predictable collection times would make it easier to leave bins out for a shorter period. We would support efforts to engage with the City about this, but this additional task will no doubt require some persistence, so we would need help to take it on!

Majority Agreement

It is already clear, though, that the vast majority of residents agree with our current approach.

After an urgent appeal following the Sept 28/29 incidents there was a striking reduction in the number of bins put out overnight (only 44 of an estimated 500). Whilst patrolling, we left notes for as many as possible who had left their bins out, explaining our concerns and asking them not to. The following week, all but 21 responded to our message, although sadly, an additional 12 put bins out overnight. The reduction in the number of people entering the area overnight has been massive, and we have had two consecutive crime-free weeks.

Appeal

We will continue our efforts in all spheres and try to reach all residents not yet on board, but we need everyone’s help in this respect.

So, we appeal to everyone to help create a new culture where putting bins out overnight is simply not done.

This will likely involve politely informing those who seem unaware of what we are trying to do and might involve helping someone who genuinely cannot do it on a Friday morning. Some gentle persuasion may be needed at first, but we expect that over time, if all one’s neighbours avoid putting bins out overnight because they care, this should ultimately become its own deterrent!

Night Patrols

We are enormously grateful to those who volunteered to do night patrols! Unlike most neighbourhood watches, patrolling is something we seldom ask of our members without a specific purpose. This is primarily because we feel that inclusivity and collective effort by everyone, whether or not they see themselves as patrollers, is far more important than relying on only a handful of members who patrol.

However, we are concerned about our steady uptick in crime after a very quiet period during Covid, and about our deteriorating socioeconomic environment. We therefore need to stay on our toes, improve our preparedness and increase vigilance in the area. We will thus be initiating a less frequent but more regular pattern of occasional nighttime patrols and are again calling for volunteers.

We know that patrolling can be exhausting but feel that between us we can manage at least one or two a month, without anyone having to do it very regularly.  Please give this some thought and be ready to offer your time, perhaps once every three months, or even less, when we ask for help!

Intruder – and Buzzer

We have also had one incident unrelated to bin night, when an intruder was chased from a property in Dunedin Road on the evening of 26 September. In this case the alarm was raised on the Buzzer App, and whilst we are still fine-tuning how we use the app locally, we are very pleased to now have 314 members on the app. We are increasingly confident that Buzzer is going to become a very effective crime response and reporting tool for all of us.

Cameras

Our camera project is also making great progress, with additional cameras installed this month in Ntombeni Way, Village Lane and Cardinal Close. We are dedicating a substantial portion of our budget to acquiring cameras.

The next areas where we plan to place them include Beach Road, Sleepy Hollow, Avondrust Circle, Heldray and Pepper Streets. If you are a resident in one of those streets and are willing to host a camera, please let us know by replying to this email!

Connectors

Regarding our connector network, we are glad to note a slow but steady growth of connector groups despite large areas where neighbours remain “unconnected”. Why people would choose not to have a connector group for security-related communication with close neighbours remains a mystery to us!

We have learned that there are neighbour WhatsApp groups that are not connected to CPNW. If you are the admin of such a group and would like to be connected to CPNW to share any concerns and pass on locally relevant information to your neighbours, you can join the Connector Group on the following link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HOQZazavDZZ6vLu3Y6C8uV .

Vulnerable Neighbours

We have so far had only one notification about a vulnerable neighbour. We would very much like to keep track of anyone in our community who may be in need of extra support, especially in the event of an emergency.

So, if you do know of anyone we should be thinking about, please drop a line  to Lynne Hogan at lchogan15@gmail.com .

K9 Tracker Training

We are very grateful to Ollie Wright, who has been a CPNW Committee stalwart and is now managing the K9 Project, for offering training for dogs and owners interested in tracking. Members of this project and their wonderful dogs have been invaluable over the years in finding criminals hiding in the bush as well as lost children, but membership of the group has been declining.

If you are a dog-owner interested in taking part, please let us know, and we will put you in touch with Ollie!

And…  the AGM

Finally, our AGM is approaching, so please set aside Monday 13 November 2023, 18h30 for 19h00 to join us at the Noordhoek Community Centre.

As always, we are way short of the support we need to do everything we would like in order to take us to another level of safety amid the challenging reality of our country. However, we have proved time and again that this is not impossible!

So please consider volunteering to help our efforts in some small way! And importantly, please at least show that you care enough about what we do to take one evening of the year to attend our AGM!

Wishing everyone a safe October!

The CPNW Committee

Notice of CPNW AGM

Date posted: October 15, 2023

CPNW NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2023

Date posted: September 20, 2023

Dear Neighbours

Housebreaking Incidents

In quite a worrying recent development, we had two incidents of housebreaking in the same area, both over the Thursday-night/Friday-morning period which correlates with bin collection time. In the early hours of Friday 1 September, a Willoughby Drive resident investigating noises in his garden had the unpleasant experience of an intruder suddenly bursting from a hiding place, and, perhaps fortunately, fleeing through neighbouring properties. He had apparently been trying to steal two bicycles from an out-building and left a backpack reportedly containing a large knife and items of clothing. A case has been opened.

The following Thursday night, another home in Willoughby Drive was entered by removing a windowpane from its frame, and two laptops were stolen. SAPS and ADT attended the scene after the burglary was discovered. We managed to get some footage of an intruder entering the area at the relevant time, but unfortunately this camera was not being actively monitored due to connectivity problems.

Implications

These incidents highlight several issues:

• Whilst the modus operandi in each incident differs significantly and is thus less likely to involve the same suspect, they reveal vulnerabilities in both time and location.
• Burglaries via windowpane removal seem to be the work of skilled specialists, who in the past have struck repeatedly after initial success in the area.
• The incidents took place in an area lacking significant camera coverage and might have been prevented had the intruder been detected earlier.

Our Response

There are several ways we can respond:

• Alarm systems that at least cover windows and house entry, or preferably passive movement monitors that detect intruders before they touch a window, are easily installed and strongly recommended.
• When concerned about a possible intruder, a wise first step is to contact a patrol vehicle. This is far safer and a much greater deterrent than residents stepping out of their homes which are then left unsecured.
• It is preferable to put bins out on Friday mornings rather than overnight, which invites people into the area on Thursday evenings and gives intruders cover.
• We all need to register that Thursday nights are a vulnerable time. An extra lap around the neighbourhood by anyone up late on Thursdays or early Friday mornings can go a long way as an informal deterrent. (Have some means of communication – perhaps mention it on the radio user’s group, have an armed response company on speed-dial, or carry a radio.)
• We urgently need volunteers to help with the Camera Project. This includes anyone with “handyman” skills, IT skills or simply communication skills to help with setup, maintenance and arranging with residents for power and internet access. If you are interested, please reply to this email!

Cameras are Key

The fast-developing camera system, in our opinion, holds the greatest potential for securing the area. For every incident such as these, there are several cases where a late-night intruder into the area was detected and politely escorted out by the patrol vehicles. We have already installed an additional camera in Willoughby and are working on installing more and sorting out connectivity issues, but our few volunteers simply cannot keep up with the demand!

Buzzer App

The other big development we are excited about is the newly introduced Buzzer App. We are delighted that our neighbourhood has 250 signed-up members so far!  Buzzer is plumbed into both the security service providers, so it’s a very effective way of getting help quickly.

It is critical, however, that we use such mass communication tools correctly to avoid frustrating others and ensure everyone stays involved.

So please take the time to learn how the app works. When testing:

• Do NOT tap the SOS button!
• Tap the + (Report) button and then the Test button as shown below.

In addition, you can turn off classes of notifications to avoid being irritated by TEST alerts, etc.

• Tap the Profile icon (lower right)
• Tap User Settings
• Tap Notification Preferences
• Switch off the notifications that you don’t want.

Vulnerable Residents

At the other end of the technology scale, we are increasingly aware of vulnerable community members who may have limited connectivity for various reasons, often related to health and age.

In the event of an emergency, we would like to be able to check that these individuals are safe and accounted for. We are therefore developing a database of who to be thinking about in this respect and how to check on them. So, if you are aware of any neighbour who might fall into this category, please let us know by contacting Lynn Hogan at lchogan15@gmail.com .

Hoping we will soon be getting some warmer weather and wishing you all a safe and lovely spring!

The CPNW Committee

CPNW NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2023

Date posted: August 27, 2023

Dear Neighbours

Crime Update

Aside from the attempted mugging at the Beach on 3 August, which we publicised as a crime warning via all our channels, we are not aware of any other incidents of crime in the area since our last newsletter. Although we have not yet received any suspect “identikit or sketch”, the description of the alleged perpetrator sounded familiar to many in the area, and we are optimistic that he will struggle to return here without detection.

Despite some difficulty we were able to identify the suspect vehicle regarding the car break-in reported last month related to a jamming device. The suspect number plate has been reported as belonging to a vehicle linked to a crime incident (something that is only possible once a case has been opened) and the number plate is now loaded on licence plate recognition systems across the city, so we will be alerted in future if it is identified in our area.

We have since then also upgraded the camera covering the beach parking area and it now has a much better range of vision.

Fortunately, measures taken along Noordhoek Main Road seem to have paid off and we have had no further reports of muggings along this road.

Buzzer

Our most exciting news this month, which hopefully most of you are already on board with, has been the introduction of the widely acclaimed Buzzer app for smart phone users in our area. This is the result of a joint initiative with San Michelle, DASCRO and Milkwood Park neighbourhood watch groups who will be involved in responses to incidents in their areas.

There are huge advantages to having this app active in our area:

• It can be used in the area by anyone who has downloaded the free app (as CPNW we pay a monthly service fee), whether they are residents, guests, employees or short-term visitors.
• It is activated simply by opening the app and either pressing an SOS alert, which also has a countdown for cancellation in the event of a false alarm, or by pressing the + button at the bottom of the screen to report less important concerns.
• Both options will result in an alert being sent, together with your geo-located position to a control room (Deep Blue Security in the CPNW area) and they will then call you back.
• In the case of an emergency, response vehicles and the relevant services will be located, and your position will be given to available responders in CPNW.
• The reporting function allows instant and easy reporting of any kind of suspicious activity. It also allows the reporting of other concerns such as burst water pipes, etc.
• A portable alert button can also be purchased for those who don’t wish to carry their phones.

The app has proven enormously successful in other areas, and we hope to see similar results in Noordhoek. Its success, however, depends entirely on a critical mass of people making use of it. So, if you haven’t already downloaded it, please do so today, and get you family, neighbours, visitors and employees to do so too!!

Further information can be found on our website at: https://cpnw.org.za/buzzer/

Connector Groups

We are still working very hard to build up our connector groups. It is hard to believe that so many cannot see the value of connecting to a local neighbourly group, but we continue to persevere with this initiative, street by street! We realise that these groups can get disrupted as people leave the neighbourhood and others move in, but this is another aspect of developing a healthy community that really demands everyone’s participation.

So PLEASE make new arrivals feel welcome and let them know that we believe in COMMUNITY. Tell them about CPNW (and all the other great community groups in our area) and ask them to sign in on our website, download the Buzzer App and join your local Connector Group. All of this comes free of charge and only requires understanding that we all need one another to make things better.

Caring for Vulnerable Residents

We have also realised that we have many older and sometimes less able residents in our community, some of whom may struggle to use social media and are thus less easy to contact. They may also be more vulnerable individuals who lack social support. In the few cases we have become aware of in the past, we have been able to assist very meaningfully when concerns have arisen, and we would like to develop into a community able to support each other in this way.

This becomes particularly urgent when we face crises such as the fires in 2015 and Covid in 2020. We would thus like to develop a database with contact details of vulnerable residents in our community so that we know who might need support or special help in an emergency.

Ideally, we would like to put a small group together to manage this and keep in touch with anyone who is particularly vulnerable. If this is something you might be able to help with, please let us know.

It was good (if short-lived at the time of writing this!!) to at least be experiencing a few sunny days, so here’s wishing everyone a safe and lovely Spring!

The CPNW Committee

CPNW NEWSLETTER – JULY 2023

Date posted: July 20, 2023

Dear Neighbours,

Armed Robberies

Since our last newsletter, disturbingly, armed robberies have continued along Main Rd, particularly on the wetlands side between Katzenellenbogen Rd and the Lakes, despite a strong community response to incidents and efforts to clear the undergrowth that aids concealment. SAPS and local authorities were made aware of the incidents, but SAPS are hampered in responding as, sadly, no cases were opened over an extended period. It seems that many of the victims are foreign nationals who for various reasons are reluctant to report. Most perpetrators have been described as young men or teenagers armed with firearms.

Arrests

We have also had a report of an upsurge in gun violence in Masiphumelele and two armed robberies of pedestrians from a vehicle, one in Kommetjie and the other in Fish Hoek. Fortunately, both latter incidents were caught on camera, leading to arrests in both cases. In even better news, on Friday 14 July, two relatively young males were arrested after an armed robbery in Capri of a similar nature to the ones reported along the Main Rd. However, it is important that we all remain vigilant and continue efforts to make vulnerable areas along the road less so and provide what support we can to those who are exposed to these robberies.

We continue to liaise with SAPS and Law Enforcement, as well as private security companies, to lobby for better monitoring of our area. We are pleased to note some positive work from a re-energised and collaborative SAPS that promises better use of the range of technologies available to individuals and community organisations, such as ever-expanding camera networks and the new Buzzer App initiative that is steadily making progress. Some security companies in the Fish Hoek precinct, though sadly not all, are also adopting more technology. We are thus trying to ensure that all parties working in the security sector understand that not only do they have a collective responsibility to the communities they work in, but that working collaboratively to monitor public spaces is a far more proactive and cost-effective way to maintain security than simply responding to alarms.

Incidents

We have received reports of two incident in our area since the last newsletter. The first involved the theft of a bicycle from a property on Avondrust Circle sometime between 23 and 30 June.

The second took place in the beach parking area on Saturday 15 July, when keys and a phone were taken from a locked car. Use of a jamming device is suspected as there was no evidence of a break-in, and the car was locked when the victims returned. Fortunately, they were able to track the phone for a short while until it was turned off, which allowed us to correlate the time and movement with vehicle activity and thus identify the thief’s vehicle using the Licence Plate Registration system. It appears that this is the first time this vehicle has been in the area. The incident was reported to SAPS, and we will be alerted if the licence plate enters our area again, as will other LPR users. This again underlines the importance of reporting crimes, as this tracking can only be done legally if related to a crime incident that has been reported to SAPS.

Preach to the Unconverted!

A big challenge CPNW faces, like other local organisations, is that our communications mostly preach to the converted, as those who receive them are already signed up and committed! Sadly, the neighbours who seem oblivious to the idea of neighbourhood are inevitably the ones we struggle to reach.

For this reason, we ask every person who reads this newsletter to speak out locally, particularly to those in your own street whenever possible, about the benefits to all of a strong community spirit.

It is mind-boggling that there are still whole streets in the area without connector groups, and that so many are still without armed response and make no contribution to security measures in the area.

For our wonderful little part of the world to remain as special and safe as it has become, we must keep developing the community culture in Noordhoek. Living in our community also means actively developing it!

Wishing everyone a warm and safe month!

CPNW NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2023

Date posted: June 21, 2023

Dear Neighbours

Crime Update  – Armed Robberies

A very concerning crime trend seems to be emerging on the periphery of our area, involving the armed robberies of pedestrians walking along Noordhoek Main Road and in Sea Cottage Drive. This is directly affecting many who work in the area. We have had reports of three such attempts, all involving people on their way to or from their work in Noordhoek or Dassenberg/Crofters Valley. Fortunately, two arrests were made in one of the incidents after a resident used the Buzzer App (more on this later), but further robberies have taken place since then, suggesting that this may be the work of a syndicate.

Since the first draft of this newsletter, we have yet again received reports of an armed robbery along Noordhoek Rd, with the perpetrators identified as two teenage males, who seemed to have been hiding in the wetlands. We are greatly heartened by the reports of those who were quick to respond!    

Surrounding Areas

At the same time there has been an increase in reports of violent crime in surrounding areas. It is distressing that those who struggle to find suitable transport to work in our areas are now increasingly exposed to further danger both at home and whilst commuting. The targeting of domestic employees in other areas has heralded crime surges in those areas, and such workers sometimes carry the keys and remotes for their employers’ properties. This is an important wake-up call for everyone, and in addition to liaising with the SAPS, we are investigating camera installation where these crimes took place.

We cannot become complacent even though our area has been fairly quiet, and we need to continually strengthen our relationships with those who work for us, who are often far more vulnerable than we are. By working together we can all make the situation safer. We encourage everyone to regularly discuss safety issues with those who work in our area, and cooperate with us on possible interventions to make all of us safer. To this end we are looking at establishing a CPNW domestic workers’ forum where we can take this further.

Thefts in CPNW Area

Within our area, we were informed (some time after the incident) of another bicycle theft in Willoughby Drive, and also reports of the theft of metal signs and letter boxes in Oak Street on Friday 2 June. Whilst we recognise the right of those less fortunate than us to walk through the area collecting items of value on bin collection days, this does provide cover for those with less honest intentions. We thus encourage relationships with known, regular recyclers who understand our need to keep things tidy and safe and whom we urge to report the presence of suspicious individuals to residents and security services. We have also made it clear that we will discourage this during the hours of darkness, with the support of the security companies.

Appeal: Report Crime to SAPS!

We request everyone to please report any incidents of crime as soon as possible and to open a case at SAPS. We are pleased to report a strengthened relationship with SAPS through the CPF, which now seems to be working well, and also with City officials, showing impressive responses to complaints, including traffic violations and infrastructure concerns.

We are pleased to note that SAPS is asking residents to report every crime because these statistics are critical in motivating for greater policing resources. Good news is that camera initiatives are picking up steam throughout the Fish Hoek precinct and being actively supported by SAPS along with other innovative strategies. In concert with the NRPA, we actively encourage everyone to report their concerns through the correct channels whenever they arise, rather than simply grumbling as we are all prone to do. Recent experience has shown that services are becoming remarkably responsive!

SAPS Fishoek Contact Numbers:  0217842700 and 0217842722 (note that 0217842720 is out of commission)

Buzzer App

On the subject of innovation, the Buzzer App has really proven its worth. On its first real use in one of the recent armed robberies, SAPS, the security companies, and neighbourhood watch members all arrived on the scene fast enough to make successful arrests. This app can Geo-locate its user and call emergency responders to the scene – and works on cell phones and via a portable panic button. As CPNW we have agreed to pay a monthly fee of R400 to have our area and surrounds included in the ‘local ecosystem’ that Buzzer is developing. We look forward to bringing everyone further news of this important development, which will be especially useful for those out walking or riding in isolated areas!

Welcome to Danieldale

We are very pleased to officially welcome into CPNW the Danieldale Community (the area up Ntombeni Way behind the old Post Office). They will be represented on our committee by Chris Gippert, who brings a wealth of neighbourhood security experience. Although this slightly expands our boundaries, this relatively small, somewhat isolated area is effectively an extension of the Village Lane area, which is already part of CPNW. It is not linked to any other area and has an active community, a 100% subscription to a single security company and strong organisational capacities. We warmly welcome Danieldale on board!

Security Company Issue

Regarding security companies, we have some concerns that one of our providers has raised fees without any consultation, that CPNW contributions collected on behalf of CPNW are not being paid with any regularity into the CPNW account, and their reluctance to participate in monitoring cameras, even though doing so would make the service substantially more cost effective. These are exactly the concerns that made us look at bringing competitors into the area in the past, which seemed to have a positive, but evidently temporary, effect. As much as we try to negotiate on a collective basis with these companies, it is critical that these companies are constantly made aware that their customers expect high standards and accountability.

So, if you pay a monthly contribution to CPNW, please ensure that your security provider does pass this on to CPNW every month. This is your money, not theirs! Please ask your security company whether they monitor cameras in the area, and if not, why not! Finally, compare your fees to those of your neighbours. If what you discover is less than satisfactory, insist they take action to correct this, and failing that, consider finding a better service provider.

False Alarms

Finally, in case anyone has not yet noticed, this is the time of endless false alarms! Please be aware that tree branches and windows left open can set off sensors in windy weather.

Wishing everyone a safe month!

The CPNW Committee.

CPNW NEWSLETTER – MAY 2023

Date posted: May 16, 2023

Dear Neighbours,

Recovered Bicycle

Since our last newsletter, we have received news of two incidents of crime in our area. In the first of these, a bicycle was reported stolen from a garage in Oak Street on April 7, possibly by someone doing casual work on the property. Subsequent reporting to SAPS led to quick results as they were able to act, based on information from an informant in Masiphumelele, and recover the bicycle!

Whilst we can sometimes be a little cynical about reporting crime to SAPS, we always encourage it, as the policing resources allocated to our local police station are determined by the number of reports. There are also some very good officers in our precinct who manage to do an amazing job despite the overall weaknesses of policing in our country.

Paintball Gun Incidents

The second incident involved reports of cars being shot at, with a paintball gun on the late afternoon/earl evening of Saturday 13 May, on Beach Road, somewhere between Millstone Close and Heldray Road. Damage to the vehicles revealed that the shots seem to have come from the southern side of the road. Aside from the damage to the cars, including chipped glass in a side-window and paint damage, the potential for causing more severe bodily hard, or even an accident makes this kind of behaviour both serious and criminal.

We would like to think that any mature adult living in our area would not be prone to such reckless behaviour (and also that the perpetrator was not from Chapman’s Peak) but anyone who does own a paintball gun in the area, may want to consider whether it was “borrowed” over the weekend.

Community Connector Groups – Appeal

We have been actively promoting our Community Connector initiative but so far with little joy. For members of the 25 or so groups that do exist (some are still getting going), a connector group is a total no-brainer, and we suspect others exist organically in any case. Why would you not want to have a bunch of your closest neighbours on a WhatsApp group?

Of course, it does require good behaviour from everyone and perhaps a firm hand in the admin role, but it really shouldn’t be too hard for a bunch of neighbours to communicate. Who wouldn’t be glad to hear that the neighbour’s alarm going off was just an accident, that we aren’t the only one concerned by a howling dog in the night, and to know that everyone is connected by at least one channel to the CPNW and our security service providers?

These groups have community building potential too. Some groups use them to arrange street braais, warn in advance of parties, find a reputable plumber, or simply borrow some sugar. If your group isn’t quite working for you, set up another one that does!

The point is just to have networks, even of only a couple of neighbours connected by at least one admin person to the CPNW Connector Rep. This allows us to quickly gather and disseminate information, and together we will always be stronger. Even if things do start to crumble around us, as South Africans, we always get together and make a plan!

For more information, contact Lynne Hogan: lchogan15@gmail.com

NRPA AGM

Making a big plan was certainly the order of the day at the NRPA AGM, held on 25 April at Monkey Valley. Huge recognition is due to the committed individuals who make up the NRPA Committee, as well as the groups operating under its umbrella for the incredible job they do to keep Noordhoek special.

They protect our interests as ratepayers, promote its equestrian character, ensure we get excellent service from the city, and keep our streets, beach and common clean and cared for. It is sad that so few residents are even members of the NRPA, as the combined income from the very modest membership fees if the majority of residents became members would radically multiply their capacity to make Noordhoek even better.

A process is underway to try to develop Noordhoek into a ‘Special Ratings Area’ (SRA) and we believe this initiative holds great promise. (In a nutshell, an SRA is an area where residents have agreed to pay an additional agreed charge on their rates bill that is channelled directly to the Community for local use.) In the meantime, we are hoping to develop a system that makes it easy to sign up for small monthly donations to the various volunteer groups that make Noordhoek such an incredible place to live!

Community Centre

The CPNW is fortunate to have the Community Centre as a key source of funding, and we rely otherwise on donations and member contributions, mostly via the voluntary surcharge on security company payments. This provides a regular income, and we appreciate a similar contribution of R30 per month from those not using a security company, via an annual donation.

We believe that the hard work we put in and the residents who pay for security companies to patrol our area help to make it safer for those who do not have a security contract, so we feel these contributions are justified. We are thus grateful to the relatively small number who have made this payment, and at the same time we have been blown away by a smaller number of incredibly supportive, very special members who take it upon themselves to make spontaneous donations in support of what we do.

We thank you from the bottoms of our hearts. The money goes to very good use, but knowing our work is appreciated is just as important!

As mentioned, the Community Centre continues to thrive as both a regular venue for all sorts of activities in Noordhoek, and as a source of income for CPNW. We are most grateful to Karen and her team for the great work they do in running it. We are still looking for someone who could take on a caretaker–handyman role, so please let us know if someone comes to mind!

Security Camera Project

Our camera project continues with its steady rollout as our financial and personal resources allow. We are pleased to say with some confidence that we now have most of our southern boundary covered and are making good progress on the western side. This development involves a large team, including those doing the planning, funding and installation and the host households for each camera – thank you to one and all!

Radio Network: Coordinators Wanted

Our radio network and response team have been fairly quiet for some time, which is of itself good news, as it signals an extended period of reduced crime levels. But we cannot afford to become complacent, so we will be looking to revitalise this area sooner rather than later.

To do so, however, we need more radio coordinators. This involves knowing basic radio protocols, hosting a base station (that we will fund) and agreeing to have it in use on a shared timetable. In the event of any trouble, an experienced operator would take over immediately, so you need no specialised skills! Please let us know if this is something you would consider doing!

We wish everyone a safe, peaceful and warm start to the winter!

The CPNW Team

CPNW NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2023

Date posted: April 6, 2023

Dear Neighbours,

Incident on the Common

As many will be aware, we had a rather concerning report of what appeared to be attempted robbery of two women on the common at around 18:30 on the 10th of March. This was initially reported by one of the women, a CPNW member, to her Connector Rep later that evening. We have since obtained information from the second complainant, who is not a Noordhoek resident.

The two women, while walking their dogs near one another, were surprised by the sudden appearance of two ‘well-dressed African males, approximately middle-aged’ who appeared to have been concealing themselves in the bushes in the middle section of the common. One ‘wearing a beige jacket had a noticeable boep’ whilst the other was ‘well-built and wearing a black jacket’. Both women reported feeling uncomfortable and decided to leave the common but parted for reasons related to their dogs and where they had parked.

The non-resident reported that whilst walking back to her car at the Jake’s side of the common, she noticed one of the men following her and now starting to run. She managed to get to her car before he reached her, at which point he seemed to lose interest.

Our CPNW member reported that she crossed to the other side of the common and noticed the other man walking in her direction until she got close to other walkers when he seemed to lose interest.

Further Report

We have since received a further report that on the 1st of April a ‘well-dressed black male in a denim jacket’ also appeared suddenly and followed a woman who was walking alone on the common. We have also been informed of at least one vagrant sleeping on the common (reported to Law Enforcement) and there have been various complaints relating to unruly behaviour and drug use. If anyone has any further information about any other concerning occurrences on the common or elsewhere, please let us know. We are also in contact with the NRPA and the Commons Committee regarding our concerns and the possible need for warning signs.

Response

Whilst the accounts we received from the two women in the first incident were clear and detailed, it is difficult to draw conclusions about any serious risk when walking on the common. We don’t have much detail about the second incident, and we also note that the first incident took place over the weekend of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, when there was a lot of activity in the area and many people on the common who are not usually in the area.

Nevertheless, any concerning incident in the public spaces we inhabit is highly unsettling, and a real threat to our quality of life in Noordhoek, which for many is intimately related to all the wild or semi-wild places near our doorsteps. It is therefore critical that we act as custodians of these spaces. Noordhoek’s many community organisations show incredible leadership in this respect and the tangible results they have achieved make this a truly exceptional neighbourhood to live in.

We therefore feel strongly that any safety threat in our open spaces needs to be countered with a very strong message that we inhabit these spaces and will look after one another and any other law-abiding citizens who visit these spaces.

Our response thus included a warning to be on the lookout, and that we did not advise women (in particular) to walk alone there at present, but we also don’t want to discourage people from using the common! We are hopeful that, if the crime threat in public spaces does deteriorate, we can respond by developing a more overtly security-conscious presence in such cases, by being in these spaces even more rather than less frequently, and with the capacity to act as a crime deterrent!

So, ideally, we encourage everyone to use the common, but in greater numbers and with the capacity to immediately report any concerns. We have asked CPRT members, whenever possible, to try to have a presence on the common, but this is of course limited by people’s time constraints, thus we encourage radio users to do the same! Reporting could involve the use of a hand-held radio, or at least having emergency numbers available on speed-dial. Additionally, when going to the common, we recommend informing others of where you are going, or calling in on the radio network.

Emergency WhatsApp Number

As a further measure, we are looking into establishing an emergency WhatsApp number that will forward messages to relevant CPNW committee members and immediately supply information on different emergency numbers. The ongoing development of our camera network is also key to making many areas safer. Lastly, we can never overemphasise the value of actively acknowledging others who are using the same area. A smile or a wave can go a long way to making everyone feel a whole lot safer – let us make it clear that we have each other’s backs!!

Always Report your Concerns

When it comes to reporting a concern, we are all aware that, in the wake of what feels like a ‘close shave’ that might have been a criminal attempt, one is often prone to begin to doubt what really happened or its potential seriousness. This can translate into delays in reporting, or not reporting at all. We always encourage anyone who has any crime-related suspicions or concerns to report these as soon as possible, particularly to our armed response officers (if you are in the neighbourhood and have a contract with an AR company) or to a CPNW group, such as your Connector Group.

We understand that false alarms do occur, but as time is always of the essence in any crime response, please don’t let this deter you from reporting! Reporting, of course, does need to be balanced (particularly in the age of social media) with a certain discipline, and as objective and detailed as possible, even though this is a big ask when one has had a fright! However, safe is always better than sorry – so it is also completely fine to say ‘I was scared… I thought… they may have…’ etc. The whole point of prevention is catching things before they happen, and in this respect, suspicions do matter, as long as we use them responsibly.

Photographs

Questions have also come up regarding the legality of photographing possible suspects. Like accurate descriptions, they can be very useful to anyone responding. Our understanding is that it is legal to photograph any person in a public place as long as it is not somewhere, such as a changeroom, where a person can reasonably assume privacy. What is critical is what then happens with the photograph. Problems arise when an image is publicly distributed in association with allegations of criminality, as happens so easily on social media. This remains problematic even in the case of a clear criminal act and arrest, as it can be seen to unduly influence the objectivity of witness accounts.

How to Report

So, the real discipline comes down to how we respond to an initial emergency message and how we pass on information. Please DO NOT send photos to large or open groups! Do be especially careful about spreading unverified information or allegations on social media, and about how events and people are described, especially given the difficult history of this country. It is tricky to find the right balance between the need to protect and respect rights, and the need to know, and we all struggle with this (including in this newsletter!). So, it is always helpful to be as clear as possible about what is ‘fact’ and what is reported.

We welcome and respect the rights of all law-abiding visitors to our area, and unreservedly condemn any form of prejudice. We expect all members of the security companies working in our area, as well as our own members, to treat anyone they approach in any context with due respect, courtesy, and the presumption of innocence, unless there is clear evidence to indicate otherwise. In the same vein, we strive to promote this attitude through any media we are involved in.

Inclusivity

This inclusive approach is really important to us, and as CPNW, we have always tried to promote our belief that the greatest security resource we have is a united and interactive community. Whilst responding strongly to criminal activity is important, it should never deter anyone from supporting what we do. We trust that this viewpoint not only comes across in all that we say and do but is also actively supported by all our members!

Attempted (but thwarted) Burglary

We were further informed of an incident of trespassing and attempted burglary in Nassau Rd on the night of Saturday the 4th of March, at about 22.30. The intruder was disturbed after entering the property and fled before anything could be stolen. Patrol vehicles responded but were unable to locate the suspect.

Mystery Solved!

In better news, we managed to solve a small mystery after several reports came in of doorbells being rung at weird hours of the night, with nobody to be seen. A little correlation with ‘Eskom se Push’ revealed that this was a result of the power coming back on!

It has otherwise been relatively quiet. We were happy to be made aware of and contribute to preparations around the planned stayaway on the 20th of March, and it was a relief to see law enforcement agencies working proactively and in a coordinated fashion to ensure a fairly peaceful day!

Community Centre

As many will be aware, the Community Centre has become an extremely popular location for all sorts of activities and functions. It is now a wonderful resource for everyone’s use and also an important source of revenue for funding things like street cameras and other security measures.

It is critical, however, that we keep the Centre in good shape, and that there is always someone available to deal with minor challenges such as alarm issues, access, and so on. This is now placing big demands on the time of committee members and volunteers, and we feel it now makes sense to appoint a caretaker/handyman who would be remunerated for being available and for any work done (or contracted out and supervised). We are therefore looking for someone in the area who is available most of the time and has the skills to do basic DIY work and to judge when an expert needs to be called in! If anyone reading this is interested or can suggest a suitable individual, please let us know!

Donations to the CPNW

Lastly, this is generally the time of year when those who do an annual donation tend to make their payments, so please be reminded if you have not already done so and are still keen to give us your support! The more we receive the more we can invest in neighbourhood security, so any donations are always welcome!

Our banking details are: Standard Bank, Fish Hoek Branch Account Number 270364439.

We wish everyone a lovely and safe Easter Holiday!!

CPNW NEWSLETTER – MARCH 2023

Date posted: March 2, 2023

Dear Neighbours,

Crime Update

It has been something of an eventful time since our last newsletter, but not all the news is entirely negative! We have had five incidents reported since the last newsletter, as well as news of an additional one that took place last month, but also some arrests.

City of Cape Town Depot Break-in

Beginning with the one a while back, there was a break-in at the City of Cape Town Property next to the NCC, on Avondrust Drive overnight, and discovered on the 18^th of January. Three chainsaws were stolen after padlocks had been cut and a door was levered open.

Beach Parking Break-in

There was another break-in to a vehicle in the beach parking lot on 29 January, with objects of significant value stolen from some visiting tourists. Unfortunately, the very nice shade now being provided by trees in the parking lot has obscured some areas from the cameras making it impossible to get any useful footage and we will need to find a solution to this challenge.

Hoek Street Theft

Then, on 31 January burglars climbed over the gate of a property in Hoek Street, broke the padlock on a Wendy house and stole a full tank of gas during the night.

Intruders – and Arrests

This was followed by additional evidence of intruders in the area, particularly on Thursday nights, including in cardinal close, where we quickly installed another camera. Then on 1 February our cameras showed evidence of intruders in Cardinal Close and at Avondrust Farm, spending considerable time in the area, possibly either stashing takings, or doing surveillance.

Particularly concerned that this may have been the prelude to a more serious crime, we put out an alert via the WhatsApp Groups. It was good to note that some, if not all were quick to get radios up and running and to call in on the first radio check we have had in some time.

We are hopeful that many more will be ready and available on the radio network should we have a serious emergency! We also alerted the security companies, and activated the rapid response team which has been quiet for a very long time and it was hugely assuring to here an almost immediate response from nearly every one of these heroes!

Perhaps in response to the heightened vigilance things went briefly quiet, but then on 10 February, the cameras spotted intruders climbing a gate in Cardinal Close. An officer from Deep Blue, alerted by his control centre, responded, supported first the ADT vehicle and then a second DBS vehicle. Officers entered property and apprehended intruders who were handed over to SAPS. The last news we had was that they were facing at least 3 charges.

Kudos

It was great to see how well our Patrol Officers work and collaborate and the arrest is a huge credit to our camera team that really illustrates the value of this program!

We are steadily learning where to place cameras more effectively and encouraging the Security Companies to monitor more and more of them, with a plan to steadily cover all the boundaries and then to go street by street, as our budget allows. The other thing every camera needs is a host, for each new location we identify, and we are most grateful to everyone who has agreed to help with this!

This generally involves use of a fibre connection and electricity supply, with fairly minimal costs in terms of power usage (about the equivalent of 1-2 lightbulbs) and data, as the cameras only actually send footage when suspicious activity is detected.

Street Group Camera Initiatives

Of course, in addition to the great value this provides to everyone in our community, it also adds an additional layer to one’s local security.  We are also delighted to hear of Street Groups that have started fundraising efforts to have their streets covered as soon as they can, and we would encourage others to do the same.

We will of course work with you to assist and to ensure that everything is compatible with our systems, so do let us know if you are keen to set something up.

Funding Appeal

Of course, as with all our projects, the successful roll-out of the cameras is entirely depending on the state of our finances. Although these have been substantially boosted by revenue from the NCC, we are still heavily reliant on member donations. Whilst most people donate regularly through a R30-per-month surcharge on their Security Company Bills, a number choose to make an equivalent annual donation, usually at this time of year, so we would be most grateful if those keep coming in.

We welcome additional donations too!

Our Banking Details are Standard Bank, Fish Hoek Branch Account Number 270364439.

Other Incidents

We also received a report that poles were removed from a property in Willow Rd, although the exact date of the crime is uncertain. Although not in our area, we were very sad to hear of two break-ins at Tom Ro Haven, resulting in the loss of much of their blankets and other equipment, which is a real blow for any charity.

Drones

We have also noted concerns, raised by residents in the Mountain Rd area, in particular, about the use of drones which have been flying low enough over houses to create a nuisance and, on a least one occasion to seriously intrude on people’s privacy at a social gathering.

It is likely that, with the rapid proliferation of these craft, many drone users, the country, may not be aware of the regulations governing to the use of drones:

• A Drone may not be flown within 50m of any person or structure or building unless there is specific permission to do so.
• Drones must be flown in the line of sight of the operator, unless the operator has an RPAS Operators Certificate
• A drone may not be flown within 10km of an aerodrome.
• The drone may not weigh more than 7kg.
• Professional use of a drone requires the operator to have an RPAS Operators certificate, which is issued by the South African Civil Aviation Authority. Which also issues permission on request, to certificate holders, for night use or use within 50m of properties.

To add to this, are very strict SANParks regulations that also prohibit the use of drones over the Beach area.

We would encourage everyone to respect these regulations and for Guest House Owners to ensure their guests are aware of this. ( probably do not need to remind everyone that, however tempting, and even if pointed vertically, the discharge of a shotgun or any other weapon in an urban area is an offence!) We would also not encourage alerting our patrol officers to drone-related concerns as we do not think they would be able to do much about it, but if this becomes a persistent problem and the property the drone is flying from can be identified, pleaser do let us know, and we would be happy to educate our local flying enthusiasts about what the law has to say!

Connector Groups

One of the innovations that we are most proud of, as CPNW, are the Connector Groups. It seems to make so much sense, that as immediate neighbours, we should have an interest in keeping one another safe, and in working together to improve our immediate surrounds, yet a shocking number of us barely even know who lives next door.

The Connector Groups have been developed with the idea of setting up small communication networks between immediate neighbours, so that we can tell one another when we are going to be away, or check up on one another when something seems amiss, such as dogs barking at a strange our, or an alarm going off.

A nominated representative of each group is then connected to Committee members and emergency teams.

The advantage of having such small groups is that they can be adapted to local needs and preferences, so some use them for broader purposes (can I borrow some sugar?), whilst others keep them strictly for security issues, the group can decide – and as a small enough group, these decisions are generally easier to make!

The groups we do have seem to work really well, and we really believe that every household should be a member of at least one group. Ultimately, our biggest source of security lies in the strength of community and immediate neighbours are any community’s basic building blocks. We will shortly be launching a campaign to develop more groups across our entire area, so please give this your support!

Fire Season

Finally, we would like to remind everyone that we are entering the height of the fire season, so please remember to be extra alert for any fire hazard, to clear gutters of leaves and cut back tree branches that could set fire to your house!

Another practical precaution anyone can take is to walk outside into the street and make sure that the fire hydrants are not buried under foliage; some hydrants in the area are currently well buried.  It’s clearly sub-optimal to have firefighters digging in search of a connection instead of putting your fire out!

Wishing you all a safe a peaceful March!

The CPNW Team.