News

CPNW AGM

Date posted: November 11, 2021

Dear Neighbours,

Annual General Meeting

Please support your Neighbourhood watch by coming to our AGM on 15 November!

This year has again been a record year in terms of how little criminal activity we have experienced, this is in contrast to many surrounding areas, and the national situation, where crime is on the increase!

So, either we are extremely fortunate or we are getting something right! Ironically however, as crime decreases in the area, we tend to get less and less support for CPNW.

What we understand very well however, as the CPNW Committee is that, in order to keep the criminals away, we have got to remain one step ahead and to do so we have to keep innovating and upping our game! We do however, understand that a quiet life in a quiet neighbourhood is what we all desire, so our goal is to increase safety without placing too much of a burden on our membership (or Committee!) and seeking smart solutions that we fund collectively.

So our primary areas of focus have been on using Security Companies effectively by developing Service User agreements that ensure dedicated services, utilizing as many sets of eyes and ears in the neighbourhood as possible, providing communication channels to ensure any concerns are attended to, and utilizing technology to ensure our area is well-monitored.

We also believe that the key to having a safe neighbourhood lies in building a healthy community, so we have worked hard to develop small connector groups and to establish facilities such as the, increasingly popular, Community Centre.

New Initiative – Camera Technology

This year we would like to discuss an important new initiative we are developing, which we hope, will eventually enable us to use powerful cameras, with analytic technology to quickly detect intruders into the area (and initiate responses, if required) as well as to identify suspicious vehicles.

We will also be hearing from the Noordhoek Community Improvement District team who have an exciting proposal that would enable us to dedicate funding paid to the City in our rates bills, to specific improvements in our area.

So please show your support by joining us on Monday!

Diarize!

15 November at 1830 for 1900

Proxy

If you cannot make it, please show your support by giving an apology and proxy vote to a trusted neighbour who will be coming along! This is also very helpful in ensuring that we do have a quorum.

The meeting will be Covid compliant, so please do wear a mask!

CPNW NEWSLETTER – OCTOBER 2021

Date posted: October 21, 2021

Dear Neighbours,

Jeanette Beaukes

We were very sad to note the tragic passing of Jeannette Beukes, who served faithfully as secretary to the Committee since as far back as 2010.

Jeannette played a critical role, not only in ensuring that our administrative functions were well taken care of and that the minutes were always done on time, but she also became a valued friend and an important voice of reason when the perspective of someone from outside of the neighbourhood was required.

She will be badly missed.

Crime Update – CPNW Area

Regarding crime in the area, it has been a very quiet couple of months since the last newsletter, with the only incident in the area that we are aware of taking place on the night of 19 September, involving an apparently intoxicated individual causing a disturbance in and around Acacia Street. He was detained by patrol officers and removed by SAPS.

Incidents

Although not strictly in our area, two other incidents have raised concerns. The first was a reported attempted mugging at the lookout point of Chapmans peak Drive above Monkey Valley on 13 September. The second was a report that two middle aged men, one described as Caucasian and the other as of mixed race (these were the only details provided) who had allegedly approached a childminder who was taking a four-year-old girl for a walk, on Silvermine Road, near the entrance to cape Point Vineyards. They reportedly tried to persuade the minder to “sell” the child to them and offered to meet again with her the next day, telling her she was “stupid” when she declined.  A case has been opened with SAPS and it seems that SMNW has been assisting with some CCTV footage.

This kind of incident is obviously very worrying, particularly to anyone with small children. It is thus critical to ensure that anyone walking with small children does have a means of obtaining help quickly, such as a cellphone and does have the numbers of the ADT of Deep Blue vehicles available. We would also stress the importance of obtaining clear and detailed descriptions and of reporting any such events to SAPS immediately.

Crime Nearby

Also of concern has been a number of reports of home invasions in the Kommetjie and Fishoek areas, particularly on properties on the Mountainside. This again raises the importance of using outside sensors in addition to indoor alarms, so that the alarm can be raised before intruders manage to get into buildings.

Camera Network

On a positive note, we are pleased to report that we have been making steady progress in developing our camera network, with the addition of a large oversight camera in the wetlands and increasing numbers of Street Overview, as well as Licence Plate Recognition cameras.

Our vision, ultimately, is to be able to develop this to the extent that we have an “intelligent” system in place that is quickly able to detect suspicious activity throughout the area and which we can use as a “virtual patrol”. We are steadily raising funds to support additional cameras and technology and we are also hoping, ultimately to also to be able to link the growing of private cameras in the area, into the system. We believe that this is the next “big step” we need to take in order to stay ahead of those with criminal intent and by doing so we can maintain the remarkably low crime rate in our area.

Looking for Volunteers

To do so however, we will need additional assistance from people with the right kind of expertise, as well as the energy and enthusiasm to take our neighbourhood to this next level of safety. So, if the vision of an ever-safer neighbourhood in the future appeals to you and you have the right skills then please consider joining a small camera sub-committee!

We are looking for people with:

• A good understanding of IT networks.
• An interest in CCTV and camera hardware.
• A variety of handyman skills and a willingness to do “hands on” work.

So, if that sounds like you, drop us a line at info@cpnw.org.za !

Privacy

Of course, and for good reason, concerns about privacy always come up when we get onto the subject of surveillance cameras, and we understand that it is important to maintain a careful balance between the need for safety and individual privacy.

Thus, we want to assure everyone that, as is the case with the LPR Network, we will strive to ensure that information obtained from the cameras is carefully controlled and managed in a manner that ensures it is used solely for its intended purposes of crime prevention and response and is only made available to those with this specific mandate.

 Community Centre

We are pleased to report that the Community Centre is absolutely thriving with increased bookings every month. We are putting a substantial amount of the funds generated directly into making further improvements with the surplus going to CPNW Projects.

New developments involve the possibility of puppy training classes and ballroom/Latin classes being started at the NCC. Whether these happen or not will depend on how many people may be interested in attending.  So, if either of these are of interest to you, let us know and we will put you in touch with the relevant instructor.  You can email us your interest to bookings@cpnw.org.za .

CPNW Database

With our continual efforts to keep the CPNW database up to date, we have become aware of more people selling houses and leaving the area and, it follows, that new people have moved in.  PLEASE, once again, if you are receiving this letter and you have moved from Chapman’s Peak, just hit the reply button and let us know – one simple word “GONE” will suffice.  If you have contact details of the new owner that would be a real bonus And as importantly if a new neighbour has moved in near you, please go and welcome them and let them know how to become part of the CPNW Team!

AGM

Lastly, it is AGM time again. Please join us at the Community Centre on 15 November 2021 at 1830 for 1900 and please give some serious thought to doing your bit for CPNW, either on the Camera Project or by Joining the Committee!

Stay Safe!

Your CPNW Committee

CPNW NEWSLETTER – AUGUST 2021

Date posted: August 29, 2021

Dear Neighbours,

A huge “Thank you” to Karen MacIntyre who put this newsletter together (besides bring huge energy to the NCC and the Database Clean Up), whilst your usual scribe has been somewhat submerged under the third wave!

CRIME UPDATE

 Since our May newsletter we have had 2 incidents in the Chapman’s Peak area. On 27 July a group of youths were spotted wandering through the neighbourhood and were reportedly filmed removing scooters from a house in Rupert Way.

The scooters were apparently recovered in a nearby area, although we are not aware of any arrests. Should any suspicious individuals be seen in the area please do notify your Community Connector Group and the patrol vehicles.

A break-in occurred at an unoccupied house near the beach car park around the end of July but it is unclear if anything was actually stolen.  The most recent incident occurred in the early hours of 8 August in Willoughby Drive. Tools were stolen from the back of a bakkie, which was parked behind locked gates.  The tools were in a bag which could have been carried off by someone on foot.  Cameras in the area were checked but nothing untoward has been found.

The incident was reported to SAPS. A concern, raised by a CPNW member, relating to the possible sighting of an ADT Patrol Officer in the same area a few days earlier has been referred to ADT’s senior management who have assured us they will investigate and report back.

NEARBY INCIDENTS

A home invasion took place in San Michel at 2pm on Thursday 12 August where a lady and children were tied up whilst the house was ransacked.  No weapons were involved.  A VW Polo was packed to the brim with items stolen from the property.

SMNW got the number of the vehicle and it was put into the Licence Plate Recognition camera system.  The vehicle has been picked up by the system but no further news available at this point.  SAPS response to the call was excellent with speedy attendance by officers and detectives.  (Remember to check that your radios are in working order!)

Better news is that on 31 July, CPNW and SMNW cameras were used to track a vehicle that had been fraudulently purchased a few weeks earlier in Wellington, onto Chapmans Peak Drive where it was successfully recovered.

CAMERA PROJECT

We are working on installing new high tech, day/night cameras that will cover large portions of our boundaries in the near future. This project involves some costly high-tech equipment but we are confident that it will add enormously to the security of everyone in the area. It goes without saying that this project, would not even have got off the ground had it not been for those of our members who so generously contribute R30 per month into the CPNW coffers.

So, thank you to each and every one of you. We will, in all likelihood, be needing to raise additional funds in the not-too-distant future but of course are hoping to do so at a less challenging time economically.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

 Having just completed a 4 month overhaul of the database to get it up to date, we are aware of a few people who have left the area and not notified us. Whilst we do appreciate that we are not on the top of anyone’s list, in the hectic scheme of moving, we would be grateful to be told as soon as possible (or on receipt of the next newsletter when you realise you no longer need to receive it!!)

Similarly, if anyone sees “SOLD” signs outside a neighbour’s house, or knows someone is moving, perhaps you could just drop us a line to see if we are aware of it? Please also speak to any new neighbours to encourage them to join so that we know who to contact should anything happen at their property!  It’s imperative that we maintain accurate information on our web site.

DEEP BLUE SECURITY ADDITIONAL CONTACT NUMBER

 Deep Blue Security have advised us that their car now has a phone with a dual sim as they sometimes struggle with Vodacom reception with. The alternate Cell C number is 074 368 7640. (The existing number is 076 269 6224).  Both their numbers can now be contacted.  If one gives problems then the other kicks in. 

NOORDHOEK COMMUNITY CENTRE

 The NCC continues to go from strength to strength with clubs, groups, meetings and activity bookings increasing in number.  For those who are unaware of it, adult classes currently taking place there on a regular basis are various types of fitness, yoga, tai chi, karate, pilates, Zumba, dance, kinesiology, as well as karate and Playball classes for kids.

Should you require further information about the hall itself, please go to www.cpnw.org.za, click on “Book the Hall at the NCC” and click on the FAQ’s above the pictures of the hall.

Should you require further information on any of the activities, please drop an email to bookings@cpnw.org.za and we will try to assist.

Stay warm, stay safe, stay alert!

THE CPNW TEAM

CPNW NEWSLETTER – MAY 2021

Date posted: May 25, 2021

Dear Neighbours,

Crime Update

We have had a series of burglaries and attempted robberies in areas adjacent to the NRA over the last two months, mainly involving unoccupied homes and outbuildings, suggestive of intruders who seem to be entering the area at night on the lookout for opportunity.

These include a break-in to an unoccupied home in Avondrust Mews on  14 April, when a gas cylinder was stolen, attempts at a number of nearby houses in Katzenellenbogen and Leerdam Roads on 20 April, when a bicycle (that was later retrieved) was stolen and more recently, on or around 20 May, the (empty) garage of an unoccupied home in Avondrust Lane was broken into.

So please try to be very aware of those smaller security details such as locks on outbuildings and objects in gardens that could easily disappear! Our experience is that the bigger crimes tend to follow the small stuff.

Home Invasions

On the note of more serious crime, we have unfortunately been receiving worrying reports of home invasions on properties close to the mountainside in areas of Kommetjie and Fish Hoek. This seems to be the work of a highly organised gang, with multiple members.

What is different from previous incidents of this sort is that the gang tends to operate at around 8:30pm, when many residences are still open and alarms are off.

So, with the cold and dark weather, in any case making this easier, it may be wise to lock up earlier than usual and to turn radios on early in the evening. We will be doing some radio checks before 8 soon, just to be sure we are well connected and prepared!

Vulnerable Resident

Several residents have been raising concerns about the wellbeing of a neighbour in one of the beachfront houses who seemed to be struggling with essential needs such as transport, lights and water and was noted to be behaving erratically.

This led to some discussion at Committee Level.  We agreed that we have always seen our mandate as being about both the Safety and Security of our members and that we can best achieve this through building community.

We thus made our own enquiries, arranged an informal network to monitor the situation, engaged with the resident directly and employed a Social Worker to assist when this became necessary, after establishing that she did not have any close family available to help.

Fortunately, after the resident was reported missing, we were able to locate her in Hospital, where she is receiving care and we are now assisting with further steps to secure her property and care arrangements in the future. We are particularly grateful to Karen MacIntyre and Lynne Hogan, various caring neighbours and To Felicity Purchase our Ward Councillor, for all the hard work and support!

NRPA

Finally, on the subject of community, those of us who were at the recent NRPA AGM cannot but have been impressed by the huge amount of work that is constantly being done by members of our community to look after and even improve the area we live in.

Speaking personally, I can remember my daughter, as an eight-year-old, becoming utterly distraught about the amount of rubbish on the beach, and how we vainly tried to pick it all up but usually gave in, overwhelmed. Now that same beach is mostly spotless, and we seem to take it for granted!

This is but one example of the many initiatives, spearheaded by members of our community that fall under the NRPA, and include such things as looking after our beach and Common, preserving open spaces, making our roads safer and making sure developments retain our area’s unique appeal.

Of course, not everyone agrees with all the NRPA Committee’s decisions but that is the nature of democracy and even more reason to participate and make your voice heard! It was thus disappointing to hear how low the membership numbers are for this important body, so we would really like to encourage everyone who is not a member to join now.

We have therefore attached a Letter from the NRPA that explains its mission and we would strongly encourage everyone to join – a strong community is a safe community!

Wishing you a warm and safe month!

The CPNW Committee

CPNW NEWSLETTER – APRIL 2021

Date posted: April 22, 2021

Dear Neighbours,

Incidents

We were very happy to report another very quiet period in terms of crime with no major incidents until this week, when there was a sequence of attempted break ins in adjoining properties on Katzenellenbogen and Buren Roads, between 3 and 430 am on the morning of 20 April. The combination of dogs barking and residents reacting seems to have scared the intruders away, but they did take a bicycle with them.  It’s unsure whether it was a single or multiple intruders or whether they had a car.

But this is a good time to service your alarms and test your radios!

CPNW Database

As most of you will know, we have been busy with a big project to update the CPNW database and finally, after three months of hard work, particularly by Karen MacIntyre, this has been completed with a   100% response rate. So well done and thank you to everyone! Please try to remember to notify us when you change email addresses, move out of the area, or have any change of details to your profile.  Keeping the database up to date is to everyone’s benefit.

A few things came out of the update which we would like to address:

Donations and Contributions

We found that many people had no idea that the R30 pm donations are CPNW’s only form of income and that most members of our Community are already make these monthly payments. We would like to sincerely thank all of those who have now stepped up to the plate and started donating, (and also gently nudge to those who said they would, but haven’t quite got around to it yet!), be it on an annual (R360) or monthly (R30) basis.

We would also like to take this opportunity of saying a huge thank you to all of those members who have steadfastly supported us with this initiative over the years.  Perhaps the most important use of these monies in recent years has been towards maintaining, upgrading and adding to the number of cameras that we have placed in and around our village at various vulnerable and strategic locations.

These include license plate recognition cameras which notify us each time a suspect car comes into our area, street cameras, and thermal vision cameras with analytics that allow for detection of intruders, all of which we need to keep rolling.  Ultimately we aim to have cameras in each street which can be monitored 24/7.  To this end we have set up a control room at the Noordhoek Community Centre from where these cameras can be monitored, whilst the feeds are also received by the Deep Blue Security Centre in Hout Bay for continuous monitoring.

Other things member contributions have contributed to include:

• Equipment for our Fire, Response Team,
• Base Stations for the controllers of our Radio Network,
• our Website,
• the speed bumps in our roads,
• administrative support for our Committee,
• support for vulnerable members of our community where there have been safety concerns,
• and the development of our increasingly popular Community Centre.

It is not simply by luck that Chapman’s Peak is regarded as one of the safest suburbs to live in in South Africa!!

Should more of you wish to assist to protect our village with donations, whether these be the basic R30 per month or something more substantial, please set up a debit order in favour of Chapman’s Peak Neighbourhood Watch, Standard Bank, Fish Hoek 036009, Current Account number 270 364 439

Updated Erf Numbers

Another thing which came to light is that some people are unaware of the changes that have been made to their Erf and House This exercise was done by the City of Cape Town to address the old original farm Erfs which have been sub-divided quite considerably, thereby necessitating a lot of numbering changes.

Where this affects us as CPNW, is that we base our data on the City of Cape Town Map Viewer so some of you (especially Mountain Road, where the numbers were a real challenge to Karen’s sanity!!) have incorrect house numbers outside your properties.  Please look at your rates bill and ensure the number outside coincides with that, so that we, emergency services and delivery vans, who will be using Google Maps, and other information systems linked to the City’s, can find your property.

It could make all the difference in an emergency, as could having the number clearly visible at your entrance. FYI, the new erf number is just a successor of the old erf number so, at any title deed change, it will be updated with the new erf number off the Surveyor General’s plan

Ex-Tenants and Updates

We also realized that by far most of the problems on the database have arisen as a result of tenants in rental properties who have come and gone (and tend to do so at a far higher rate than owner-residents), without notifying us.

Thus, for landlords and non-residents who rent their houses out:  If a tenant signs up with us we give the non-resident owner a virtual address and cross refer you to your house. This enables you to still receive our newsletters and incident reports.  However, if the tenant leaves without notifying us, we end up contacting someone who hasn’t lived here for years.  So, please notify us when someone leaves and encourage those who come in to join CPNW! This will not only avoid confusion in an emergency, but also continue to maintain our support and growth as a community.

Fires

Lastly, as this letter is being written we are monitoring reports of the devastating fire on Table Mountain. Whilst this does not pose any immediate danger, it will not be the first large mountain fire that has ended up on our doorstep!

So now would be a good time to check your radios, ensure that the nearest fire hydrant to your house is visible and accessible, clear gutters, under garage doors and areas close to buildings of dry leaves or other flammable materials and generally consider what you might need to do in the event of a fire. Here’s hoping it will be under control soon!

Wishing everyone a safe month!

The CPNW Team.

NEWSLETTER – FEBRUARY 2021

Date posted: February 21, 2021

Dear neighbours,

Crime Update

Since our last newsletter we have seen a few incidents of opportunistic crime involving outbuildings, as well as two incidents of motorcycle/scooter theft. On 18 Dec a Sym Trail Blaze 200 motorcycle was stolen from an open Driveway in Millstone Close. The motorcycle had been secured with a chain as well as a steering lock mechanism and it may have been loaded onto a vehicle some time during the night.

We were also informed of the theft of a scooter from outside of the Aegir Brewery during the evening of 5 February. We have since been made aware that multiple such thefts have been reported in the Cape Town area with a suspected syndicate in operation. So please be very careful if you have a small motorbike or scooter!

All the other incidents we are aware of have involved perpetrators who seem to be moving about on foot and are on the lookout for opportunities involving out-buildings that are relatively easy to break into, by virtue of being out of sight or relatively poorly secured. These include a second visit to an out building in Buren Rd on 2 January with the theft of a bicycle and sewing machine, a break in attempt at the Community Centre on 18 January, a break-in to an outside office on Avondrust Mews on 26 Jan with the theft of some tools and computer equipment and an attempt to break into a gate on Leerdam Rd on 12 Febriuary. We note that the majority of these cases involve locations that are easily accessible from the wetlands and in one case that some stolen property had been located there. We are in the process of installing some additional security cameras at the Community Centre and we hope others will similarly be upgrading what they have in place.

Surrounding Areas

It is important to note however, that although the lockdown periods have been quiet for us, this has not been the case in other areas of the South Peninsula, where an armed gang has been involved in a number of home invasions. We have recently been made aware of information, from more than one source, to suggest that areas in Noordhoek may be targeted next. So if there was ever a time to consider adding outside beams or sensors to your alarm set-up, this is it. Additionally please do make sure you are on a neighbourhood group, so you can be assured that activity late at night in the house of a neighbour is indeed benign!

Security Providers

As mentioned before, we have been in the luxurious position of having two security companies, providing no less than four dedicated vehicles in our area at night, for almost a year now with two dedicated vehicles during daytime hours, as a result of our moves to welcome a second armed response service provider into our area and to recommend Deep Blue Security as a preferred choice. Our reasons for doing so, which are set out in detail on our website, revolved primarily around Deep Blue’s strengths in the use of camera and analytic technology to enhance surveillance and patrolling,  a business plan that involves services tailored to the needs of local neighbourhood watches and rates that were significantly better than what ADT was prepared to offer at the time.

As part of its initial offer Deep Blue Security provided two vehicles in the area from Day 1, optimistic that they would quickly recruit the number of residents required to cover their costs in the area, estimated to be in the region of 250. This however was followed shortly thereafter, not only by vigorous action by ADT to counter the offer, which has resulted in significant reductions in prices for armed response throughout the Peninsula, but also by the lockdown. The result has been that, now almost a year down the line DBS has to date signed up less than 60 households, They thus approached us at the start of the year to inform us that, in order to ensure their own financial sustainability, they had to revise their offer and reduce the night-time patrols to one vehicle only until they have reached the required numbers.

We are pleased to note however that they have installed their first community NW camera in Katzenellenbogen Avenue, looking out onto the wetlands, and all of our cameras are now being monitored by DBS. They are also planning to launch another very exciting security feature in the near future, with a renewed marketing campaign to go with that, so we are still very positive that they can remain established and continue to grow, in the area.

Community Centre

The Community Centre is going from strength to strength with a greater number of bookings every month and this is allowing us to fund further upgrades and improvements with most of the windows now completed we have a refurbished braai area next in our sights!

Care for the Disabled

In other news, we have been made aware of more than one resident who seems to be struggling with disabilities and we are putting together action plans to reach out to ensure their safety and to try and provide some support. In this regard we are pleased to note that the CPF have now appointed an officer to liaise on matters related to the care of the elderly, with whom we have been in touch which will hopefully ensure that those who are vulnerable have been made known to emergency services in the event that they do need assistance.

Fire Precautions

We must also remind everyone that we are entering the height of the fire season! Between the harsh winds and the hot sun, most of the vegetation around our homes is now exceptionally dry and ready to burn… So please be sure to check your hydrants, clear gutters and prune away any potentially flammable bushes and trees from around your home! For those who have raised concerns about piles of alien vegetation left by clearing teams, we are informed that the piles are necessary as it is not viable to remove the material completely from the area but that the piles are situated in a way that ensures they can burn to the ground harmlessly without causing further spread.

Volunteers

Finally, thank you to those who have offered to assist with some of the work we do!! We will be in touch soon with regard to particular tasks and we would love to have a few more volunteers on board. Some of us have managed to do this without too much disruption to our lives for more than a decade now! Perhaps we could all just offer one or two years?

Database Update

CPNW is doing a database update to make sure that your contact details, that we have on our website, are still current.  Please know that it is for your own benefit for us to have the correct contact details.

We are finding a lot of outdated phone numbers, non-existent email addresses and even people who no longer live here.  It doesn’t bode well if we are trying to get hold of you for some emergency at your property.  We are working through the list of 470 members from A-Z so please could we ask you to respond as quickly as possible in order for us to be able to move to the next letter.  It’s an onerous task so your assistance would be very much appreciated

Wishing you a peaceful month!

The CPNW Team

NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER 2020

Date posted: December 22, 2020

Dear Neighbours

AGM

Thank you to those who came to our AGM! Although it was a relatively small turn out, this was not unexpected and although we did have a quorum we were also able to exercise due care in terms of Covid-19 risks and adhere to the required protocols.

For a copy of the Chairperson’s report please click here.

In terms of crime 2020 was a very quiet year with only 8 reported incidents up to the time of the AGM (and another two since then – see below), which contrast markedly with many surrounding areas where crime, has been on the rise, which is no surprise, given the prevailing economic situation.

Security Providers

As mentioned in the report, our good fortune has been due to the fact that we have had dedicated vehicles from two security companies in the area, as well as further development of our camera network thanks to our partnership with Deep Blue Security. This is however, not a situation that can last forever and sadly, we are noting an overall decrease in the number of residents who are signed up to a Security Service Provider.

Whilst we understand that many have had a tough year, we must stress that the safety of this area is highly dependent on the services of these companies and what is effectively a “free ride”, of great security without paying for a service, will not last very long if more neighbours do not come on board to share the financial load! We are proud of the fact that, through bringing Deep Blue into the area and breaking the monopoly that previously existed, we have substantially reduced rates for everyone but if more residents don’t pay for a service we will soon end up in the same situation once more! It is no doubt the case, however, that most who actually read this newsletter do have a security provider, so we need to ask all of you to also please encourage neighbours to do the same!

CPNW Committee Changes

In terms of the CPNW Committee we note the departure of Sue Montgomery and Erik Meijer, both of whom have served on the Committee for more than ten years. We are enormously grateful to you both for all the hard work! Erik has very kindly also agreed to continue to assist Karen McIntyre with the Community Centre. The rest of the Committee has agreed to stay on for the time being, as we do feel that the midst of a pandemic is not the ideal time for wholesale change but many on the Committee are feeling that we are well past our “sell by” dates, having been involved for 10 years or more.

So we are making a plea for at least 4 or 5 new volunteers to join us on the Committee in the coming year! Although the amount of hours required per month is relatively small, we are absolutely confident that CPNW has played a critical role in making this one of the most secure open-access suburbs in the country and we feel it is time that a few new members stepped up, to take this success into the future!

Latest Crime Incidents

In terms of incidents since the AGM, it would seem that an attempt by four individuals at Aegir Brewery in the Red Herring Centre on the evening of 5 November was foiled after they were seen to be acting suspiciously, although they did manage to steal a cell phone before leaving in a hurry.

We have also received a report that a motorcycle was stolen from a property in Millstone Close on the night of 18 December.

Masiphumelele Fire

We are sure everyone is aware of the awful Fire in Masiphumelele and we are grateful for all the donations that are coming in. A key part of the CPNW philosophy has been that the most important way to build our security is through the development of a stronger sense of community, and whilst this primarily applies to our own area, it is also self-evident that the less anyone in this valley is exposed to hardship and suffering, the more secure we all become. We trust also that anyone who had not already heeded our warnings to check for access to fire hydrants and to clear properties of ire hazards will now be sure to do so!

Community Centre

We are delighted that the Community Centre is really being used more and more by members of the entire Noordhoek area. With the proceeds of the very reasonable rental rates, we have been able to use replace the flooring earlier in the year and now to improve the outside lighting, renovate all of the windows and repaint the fascia boarding and to make a range of other minor repairs.

It really is looking better and better and we are enormously grateful to Karen and Erik, as well as many others for all the hard work.

Member’s Database

It has been some time since we updated our database and unfortunately we have become aware that many of those on our system are no longer in the area whilst others have moved in and not joined up. So we will be emailing everyone’s CPNW profile to them in the next month or two and we are just asking that everyone check their details and advise us if they are still correct or if any changes, additions or deletions need to be made. Please do help out by responding and by encouraging all you neighbours to register on the website!

Covid

Finally, we have become aware of a growing number of Covid cases in our community, so as much as we were all hoping that this was behind us and there is a certain sense of fatigue this time around, please do take every precaution and keep wearing those masks!

Wishing you all a pleasant Festive Season and a much better 2021!!

The CPNW Committee

CPNW AGM – CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Date posted: December 22, 2020

Welcome and intro

Good evening and thank you to those who have come out tonight! As promised we will be keeping this as sharp and short as possible!

In terms of our constitution, we needed to have this AGM now but realise that we are still very constrained in terms of making any big changes, so we felt it would be simplest if we did not make any major proposals from our side until we are in a better situation to really make collective decisions as a community. This speaks not only to our ability to have a proper community meeting but also to our capacity to really organise in this climate, particularly whilst some of us are still very busy with the pandemic and its consequences. It has been quite a year!

Thanks to Committee

As many of you will know, for much of the year I was unable to pay much attention to what was happening in our neighbourhood due to the extreme challenges that the virus created in my work situation, so I am incredibly grateful to everyone in the Committee who stepped in during this difficult time to help out. In particular I must thank Patrick Wright, who deputised as Chair, as well as to everyone else who gave support and has remained actively involved.

I am pleased to say that, although many of us are feeling that after more than 10 years on this Committee it is time we moved along, most of the Committee has agreed to remain in place until we are more broadly in a better place to meet properly!

Review of Year

Incidents

In terms of incidents in the past year it has remained relatively quiet, particularly during lockdown and since then:

As you can see from the graphic, we have had a total of 8 reported incidents throughout the year, although to this we should add that we were aware of a burglary followed by a mugging on the beach in May that was never actually reported, possibly because it may have taken place at a time when we were all meant to be at home. The vast majority have involved thefts from outbuildings or of poorly secured items on properties, with only two actual break-ins to residential properties.

Sadly, Beach incidents still persist and we are aware of at least three recent incidents of armed robbery in the area surrounding the Kakapo wreck.

So, aside from the Beach situation, this is really good news and has maintained the downward trend we have been recording over the past few years, which is particularly remarkable in contrast to our neighbours who in general saw quite an increase in incidents, particularly after lockdown, with a resurgence in cat-burglar type incidents and more recently several home invasions and plenty of petty crime.

Of course we have been particularly protected this year with a double-dose of dedicated vehicles patrolling our area, which is a situation that cannot last indefinitely but I am strongly of the belief that this does demonstrate very nicely what a concerted and sustained, community-wide effort can achieve, even in a national climate where all the signs are pointing in the opposite direction. I truly believe that we must be one of the safest open access neighborhoods in our country. Not only that but it is one where we are able to benefit from a wide range of community initiatives that include the wonderful state of our Common, a beautifully clean beach, great horse-riding facilities, a Community Centre that is improving all the time, fire protection measures and many more initiatives that are the product of an active community that has really stepped up in taking care of where we live.

What is disappointing however, is the fact that, with most of these initiatives, it is the same old faces we see at the meetings, and it really is time that we saw some new blood in our organisations. Hopefully many of those who did step up to help with the pandemic in some way, will have experienced some of the great positivity that comes from working collectively and will be incentivised to making a more regular difference in our collective home!

Security Provider

This has really been the most vexed issue in the past year. To summarise, we last year at the AGM took a resolution to advocate for the adoption of Deep Blue Security as our preferred service provider. It seems this took some members off guard who subsequently made accusations that we had acted unconstitutionally and without consultation. As you will see from documentation on our website, we stand by how this decision was taken as well as the reasoning behind that decision.

Unfortunately a planned big marketing drive from DBS was scuppered by the lockdown and we have also seen ADT counter this with a R140 per month drop in prices across the board with further special offers to individual customers. This is something we considered particularly cynical, given that they had for years assured us that all increases they had made were the absolute minimum they could afford. Nevertheless we feel vindicated that our move to introduce competition into the area has saved a huge amount of money for residents all over Noordhoek. Our relationship with ADT has however deteriorated further, as despite our reassurances that we continue to see them as a partner in the area and will continue to work with them, they have refused to communicate effectively on a range of security issues. Thus at present the ability of the existing Committee to work with ADT is severely compromised.

Deep Blue currently have just over 50 signed up clients in the area and ADT have, we think, around 200. We remain firm in our belief that the partnership with Deep Blue holds the possibility of far more effective crime prevention in our area, based on their small size and local focus, as well as the use of camera and other technology to make patrolling more effective.

Despite the relatively small number of clients at this point (they need at least 200 to break even) they remain committed to the area and are planning a refreshed marketing drive when they will also be promoting some very exciting new technology that looks set to providing greater safety for individuals in areas like the wetlands and beach.

We are hopeful that it is simply inertia, and the recent tough economic times that have made it difficult for DBS to gain traction. We certainly need at least one dedicated company in the area and despite their commitment, the financial reality is that Deep Blue will not be able to remain here indefinitely, without the clients. So we are hopeful that people will understand that we cannot afford a whole lot of free riders in the area and if a majority of our members still seriously believe they should be staying with ADT, we invite them to come onto the Committee to rebuild that relationship and to steer us that direction. You are welcome to stand for the Committee now or to join us at any point in the future.

OTHER INITIATIVES

Social Media

As most of you will be aware, a huge amount of communication these days takes place on Social Media, whether we like it or not. So I am hugely grateful to Patrick Wright and Robin Mousley who keep an eye on things and are particularly careful to limit the spread of fake news and to ensure correct information does get put out there.

Cameras

We have done quite a lot of work on camera maintenance this year but the really good news is that Deep Blue have now taken over the monitoring of all of our LPR cameras and thus far have installed 6 additional cameras of their own in our neighbourhood. In addition to the feed to the DBS monitoring centre, there is a feed to our own control centre in place should we need to use that for incident response and coordination. We are also pleased to note that, in a private arrangement with Avondrust farm , an extensive network of cameras has been set up there, which I am sure is not only bringing more peace of mind to the Dockers but also serves to strengthen security on what was a very vulnerable flank.

Radios

The radio network remains active after a bit of a quiet patch whilst Karen, our most active radio coordinator was away. We do however need a few more volunteers to assist with this role, which primarily involves having a base station in your home and taking responsibility for monitoring it on one or more days of the week. Please let us know if this is something you would consider!

Response Teams

The response teams have not been called out this year but we know we have a highly reliable bunch in the teams, who remain ready and available if needed.

K9

It has, similarly, been a quiet year for the K9 team although Ollie has helped out when San Michelle were struggling with the cat burglars and, from what we hear, really impressed our neighbours with this capability. Thank you to our dog handlers!

CPNW NEWSLETTER – SEPTEMBER 2020

Date posted: September 28, 2020

Dear Neighbours

Crime Update

As we begin to emerge from (what we trust to have been) the worst phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are very pleased to able to report that crime-wise, our area has been remarkably quiet, with our last confirmed incidents as far back as early June.

This however contrasts significantly with neighbouring areas, where there have been cases of home invasions and several incidents of burglary, as well as of less organised crimes. Both the home invasions and the burglaries seem to be reminiscent of past experiences, with reports of a well-coordinated group involved in the home invasions and of burglaries that followed a similar modus operandi to what we experienced in 2017 with the group we referred to as the “Blue Gloves Gang”, who are adept at removing large window panes as a mode of access, whilst residents are sleeping. The latter group was, to some degree deterred by some very proactive work by San Michelle NW members and was then tracked via the Licence Plate Recognition Network to other areas where some arrests have been made.

Other crimes have involved thefts from properties but also some more aggressive cases, such as one involving a window being smashed in a late night hit-and-run in Dassenberg. This upsurge in crimes has hardly been surprising, given the desperate economic situation in the country and we are in no doubt that in this respect the lockdown, and more particularly the curfew, has been to our advantage.

Check your Alarm and Radio!

It is thus critical that we, at this time of loosening regulations, realise that it is extremely likely that crime in the country will increase and that we will not be spared this renewed onslaught. So whilst crime prevention has perhaps not been top of mind for everyone, this is perhaps a very good time to review your alarm systems, check that your radio is working, make sure you are connected to neighbours and encourage everyone to invest in the services of a security provider!

With that in mind, please click here for details of our SLA with Deep Blue Security, whom we recommend as a service provider.

Service Providers

Of course the other likely reason we seem to have avoided the current crime waves experienced in other areas, has been the fact that we currently still have the services of dedicated patrol vehicles from two security companies, who are currently locked in a price war. Whilst this has resulted in considerable savings for many residents, it is sadly, a situation which is unlikely to last, particularly if we do not encourage everyone to understand that engaging a Security Service Provider not only improves one’s own household security but also that of the entire neighbourhood.

Our choice of Deep Blue as a recommended service provider was well-aired at the beginning of the year and we remain convinced that our partnership with them holds great promise for the future. With their assistance we have been upgrading our LPR Camera network, and we are looking forward, in the next month, to a further roll-out of street-monitoring cameras. This, we are sure, has also played an important role in deterring crime from our area.

“Kidnapping” Fears

We have also become aware of at least two reports, via social media, of persons who reportedly acted in ways that raised concerns with regard to potential child kidnapping. In neither case have we been able to establish any information at all that would confirm criminal intent on the part of the alleged perpetrators. We have thus remained alert but not taken any further action in either case.

Whilst we would by any means wish to deny the importance of remaining vigilant at all times, particularly with regard to the safety of our children, we do note that  the SAPS in Gauteng have recently raised concerns about fake news in this respect and we have also been aware of such allegations being linked to xenophobic attacks on foreigners, with a recent case of a, reportedly “missing boy” leading to the horrific abduction and torture of two foreign nationals in Hout Bay.  We must thus ask everyone to exercise some discretion before immediately raising the alarm when such concerns are raised and also to bear in mind that.

We stress however that this should in no way discourage anyone from reporting any concerns about potential criminality. Ideally however this should be done via direct communication with our Armed Response Officers who are well-versed in responding in manner that balances the need for security with the rights of any individual to be in the area. For those who do not have a security service-provider we would encourage communication with CPNW, via Connector Groups or the radio network. When reporting any concerns, please always be careful to be as specific as possible, not only with regard to identifying features but also in terms of exactly what behaviour or statements gave rise to concerns.

Community Centre

The Community Centre is looking better and better after we had the floor redone and various other maintenance projects are underway, with the roof our next primary focus of attention. We are delighted to announce that it is now being used more than ever, although the high pressure on bookings, combined with rather too many cancellations has led to change in policy whereby we will be requiring up-front payments in the future.

Financial Support

Many thanks to all who have continued to support us with the R30 per month contributions to CPNW as this is our only source of income to be able to carry out the work we do.  We really appreciate every cent we receive.  If you are benefitting from all this technology and added security and would like to contribute R30 a month (less than the cost of a craft beer!!) or make a once off payment (of R360 a year) then please help us by donating to:

• Chapman’s Peak Neighbourhood Watch
• Standard Bank, Fish Hoek 036009
• Current Acc number 270 364 439
• Ref: Donation

Personally Speaking

On a personal note, as CPNW Chairperson and the usual scribe of this letter, I am hugely grateful to the rest of the Committee for stepping in a taking over my roles entirely during the height of the pandemic, when I was entirely occupied with the management of a provincial Covid-19 unit for psychiatric patients. It is a heat relief to be at the end of that difficult period, although I would urge everyone to continue to exercise extreme caution, as particularly in areas such as ours, where most people did manage to isolate effectively, we remain vulnerable to a second wave.

Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful October!

Fire Risk in the Chapmans Peak Area

Date posted: July 16, 2020

At the most recent meeting of the CPNW committee, the Chapmans Peak Volunteer Fire Unit reported that on 25 June a fire started in a patch of alien vegetation near The Dunes property.  It is suspected that vagrants started a fire that went out of control in the NW wind.  Fire Services were on the scene quickly and put the fire out within a couple of hours.

CPVFU highlighted the existence of alien vegetation at the scene, and on other private properties in the area.  This represents a significant risk that will only increase as the dry weather in summer approaches.

CPNW appeals to private landowners to take action to remove highly flammable invasive alien plants to reduce fuel biomass.

Now is a great time to do it!

The CPNW Committee.