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