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!!
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