Date posted: May 25, 2022
Dear Neighbours,Home Invasion
We have unfortunately had another home invasion, since our last newsletter, this one taking place in a house above Mountain Road on 12 April at around 21h00. The victims, who were renting on holiday, were reportedly restrained using cable ties by five masked males, led by one bearing a firearm. The assailants took phones, a laptop and jewellery and left via the mountainside, with the alarm only being raised via SAPS after they had fled. By pure coincidence the escape vehicle was stopped at a SAPS roadblock in Hout Bay, where the driver was arrested, although the rest of the assailants managed to escape.
As happened with the last short bout of invasions and burglaries, also involving a vehicle from Hout Bay, we are hopeful that an arrest will deter, if at least in the immediate future, further incursions but vulnerability to this kind of crime remains a major concern.
Modus Operandi
From what we have been able to learn, invasions involving “Balaclava-gang” type groups in the Western Cape tend to involve a group of about 4-6 individuals of whom at least one has a firearm, who tend to target vulnerable homes next to greenbelt, and bushy areas, where they can be dropped off, and hide, before and after the incursion.
It seems that targets are selected over wide areas, with multiple different suburbs that are within vehicle range, hit by the same group. They seem able to penetrate fences and to manage dogs and tend to strike in earlier parts of the night, before many are asleep or have activated alarms, entering through open doors or taking advantage of someone opening a door, for example to let a dog out.
Defensive Strategy
Whilst we are making excellent progress in monitoring our boundaries in terms of vehicle access as well as access on foot from the beach and wetlands boundaries, limiting access from the Chapman’s Peak side presents an entirely new challenge.
This is a long boundary and much of it is unfenced, bushy and on uneven terrain, with numerous of short-term rental properties that are easy to access from both the road and the mountain. We are therefore going to have to give this area some focus, and we would encourage everyone living close to that boundary to start thinking about how we can start developing solutions to what seems to be a growing problem, whether these involve, for example cameras, fencing, motion-sensors or any measures that may be helpful.
Our experience at CPNW, would suggest that the most critical ingredient for any such initiative is communication - not only in getting everyone on board with a coordinated strategy, but also in terms of immediate support and safety in the event of any incident, as well as in the detection and deterrence of suspicious activity.
For this to happen we need to plea for your involvement, if you happen to live on or close to our Chapmans Peak Boundary and you are reading this newsletter!
Please make sure those around you on the boundary are connected to CPNW, as well as with one another, and are thinking and talking about how we can make that boundary safer, not only from criminal activity but also from fire.
If you’re not on a whatsapp Connector group, contact Lynne on +27 72 905 4676 to find out where your nearest one is, or to start a new one. The Connector groups are a great way to make contact with your neighbours and to coordinate activities.
Start thinking about it yourselves, take a walk around and invite the neighbours. As a committee we will of course facilitate these processes, but our biggest strength in CPNW, depends on everyone’s involvement.
Cameras
Speaking of the other boundaries, we have been accumulating significant funds and were thus able to purchase a further 10 oversight cameras, that we are steadily placing at strategic spots that cover key access points into the area from the beach, wetlands and Main Road boundaries.
We have also finalised the installation of a new Licence Plate Recognition camera, covering the entrance to the Beach Parling Area, which is also covered by several oversight cameras. The installation and running of all of these cameras is highly dependent on the very good will of hosting homeowners, to whom we are all extremely grateful!
Mobile Panic Alarms
Another exciting community security project we have been looking at, which has massive potential, is the use of portable safety devices that have the capacity to act as geo-locating panic alarms. There have been a number of versions of these that we have heard about, in development, with the best offering satellite tracking in areas that are out of cell phone range and portable devices that can be concealed, as well as an app.
We are looking at a version that could potentially be developed across Noordhoek with signalling to patrollers as well as a coordination centre, like so many things however, it would however require a dedicated group of people to coordinate, as an initiative in our area.
Community Spirit – Volunteers Rock!
On the other hand, the continued improvement of Noordhoek over the last 20 years, as a great neighbourhood to live in, be in terms of litter-free beaches, boardwalks and parking lots, low crime rates, speed control on the roads, or a beautiful Common, has occurred entirely as a result of a tremendous community spirit.
This spirit is engendered by individuals who understand that these things only happen when we stand up and get involved – so the challenge goes out to a few more, to make this great opportunity for enhancing everyone’s safety whether they alone at home, or miles down the beach a reality!
Radios
Whilst we have not had much call to need our radios in a while, please do not forget them!! We do put out a call for the occasional radio-check on the WhatsApp Group but please do feel free to do the odd random check at a convenient time (9am-8pm).
Most importantly PLEASE remember to advise us if you are leaving and to either sell back your radio to us or let us arrange to have the Private Fish Hoek NW frequency de-programmed. This is a legal requirement and we most certainly would not like one of these radios to get into the wrong hands!!
Community Centre
The Community Centre continues to go from strength to strength, with a record number of bookings every month. This income generates funds for its upkeep and continued improvement, with the brain area about to have a makeover this month and which also further support our investment is security measures. We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed to the Centre's ongoing success! Our big hope is that in time all our communities will be able to bring together these evolving security technologies in the hub we also have available at the Centre!
NRPA AGM
In support of the continued development of our community and all its initiatives, please do diarise the NRPA AGM on Wednesday 8 June from 1800 to 2000 at Monkey Valley.
URGENT: Treasurer Needed for the NRPA
Rob Speedy is leaving the NRPA Exco after 8 years and we need a volunteer to step in to his shoes as Treasurer.
As with any organisation, finance management is key to the success of the NRPA.
The duties of the Treasurer are to manage the financial affairs of the NRPA:
- Make authorised payments as required by the Exco
- Record and allocate receipts
- Maintain a cash book of financial activity and reconcile monthly to the bank account
- Report back the Exco monthly on the financial position of the NRPA
- Prepare and present annual financial statements at the AGM
- See to it that the annual tax return is correctly submitted
- Administer the membership database
- Reconcile members and audit addresses and erf numbers
- Record payment status of members
- Invoice members for fees due
- Deal with member queries from time to time
- Oversee fundraising from time to time
It generally requires on average about 8 hours a month, sometimes a little more. It is critical to stay on top of the cash book monthly. Basic bookkeeping and Excel skills are needed, as well as attention to detail.
Please reach out to chairman@nrpa.org.za if you are able to help with this position or know of someone that we can approach.
Wishing you all a safe and warm winter!
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