CIDs to distribute 4 000 safety and security leaflets to increase vigilance
Dedicated to crime prevention and improving their areas, the Oranje-Kloof and Green Point City Improvement Districts (CIDs) will be distributing safety and security leaflets in their respective areas over the festive season. A total of 4 000 leaflets will be distributed by CID Security Officers. The leaflets contain important security numbers in case of an emergency, as well as helpful safety tips to increase vigilance and awareness amongst residents and holiday makers.
Switching into relaxation mode, holiday makers often fall prey to criminals as they find themselves in an unfamiliar town or city and are not aware of the potential safety threats. Filled to capacity restaurants and shops also makes it easier for criminals to go about their activities without being noticed.
Dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment, the CIDs have compiled the following safety tips, relating to various situations:
Holiday makers exploring Cape Town:
• Please be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to SAPS or your local CID patrol.
• When in public spaces (i.e. walking around or enjoying a meal at a restaurant), keep valuable items including jewellery, mobile phones and wallets out of sight.
• Always lock valuables away in the boot of your vehicle prior to reaching your destination, including items of luggage.
• When making an emergency call, identify yourself and your emergency clearly, provide the operator with your contact details and exact address and try to remain calm. If safe, stay at the emergency scene until assistance has arrived.
• While driving, know your destination and directions for how to get there. Be alert should you get lost and avoid driving through high crime or unfamiliar areas at all costs. Make a mental note of any police stations in the vicinity while driving.
• Always drive with your windows and doors locked and/or closed. Do not leave windows open more than 5cm. Drive in the centre lane away from pedestrians where possible. NEVER, pick up hitchhikers or ask for directions unless at a place of safety (i.e. petrol station, restaurant etc.).
• Make sure you have the numbers of Table Mountain National Park (0861 106 417 (TMNP) and SAPS’ all emergency number (107) on speed dial when exploring Table Mountain, Signal Hill or Lion’s Head. Save the number as something you´ll easily remember (e.g.: Emergency – SAPS and Emergency – TMNP).
Check the weather conditions regularly in the hours leading up to your mountain hike and be sure to listen to warnings. Cape Town’s weather changes dramatically in minutes – be prepared for the worse. Make sure you're properly kitted for the activity. Essential items are a wide brim sun hat, sunscreen, water and food, something warm, waterproofs, a fully charged cellular phone and good footwear. TMNP also offers trained guides to accompany you on your hike. Visit: www.sanparks.org for more information.
Cape Town residents, leaving their homes, to go on holiday:
• Ensure that all doors are locked at all times, and that windows are closed when you are not at home.
• Exchange cell phone numbers with one or two of your neighbours to ensure that they can contact you in the event of an emergency, should you not be at home.
• Brief a trusted neighbour about your holiday plans so they can be on the lookout for any suspicious activity around your home. Inform them of your intended destination and the time you expect to return. However, be sure your neighbour does not share your travel plans with anyone else as this can make your home a potential target.
• If you don’t know your neighbour well enough yet, leave a key to your home with a trusted friend or family member in the area and provide your neighbour with his or her contact number in case of an emergency.
• If you feel comfortable with your neighbour entering your home while you are away, ask them to frequently collect your post, turn on a few lights, draw or open your curtains, move your vehicle or water your garden to create the illusion that someone is at home.
Business owners/managers:
• Avoid inside jobs and cash in transit robberies. It is vital that you compartmentalise information about cash transits. Although no one wants to believe that their staff may be leaking information about their business, keeping information about cash transits and deposits on a need to know basis, can assist in avoiding inside jobs from taking place. Eliminate having to transport large cash amounts by paying salaries via EFT or cheques. If this is not possible frequently vary your routes to and from the bank. Furthermore take the following safety precautions:
o Be discreet when requesting the total amount of money from the cashier as you never know who might be listening.
o Arrange a trusted friend or family member to collect you at the entrance of the bank or in a secured parking area.
o Be aware of your surroundings and any suspicious behaviour.
o Alert your security company that you will be drawing and transporting a large amount of cash. Provide date, approximate time and specific bank.
• Form a network of eyes and ears. Train your staff to be alert at all times and immediately report any suspicious customers to management. Don’t only be on the look-out for ‘traditional’ theft or criminal activity - also be attentive to your customers’ behaviour, following their purchase. In the restaurant industry there has been a sharp increase in incidents where patrons enjoy a restaurant’s hospitality and then quickly leave without being noticed and without paying the bill. Always have a manager or experienced staff member manning your restaurant entrance to monitor patrons entering and leaving.
• Be strict with restroom usage. Only allow patrons to use your restrooms. Restrooms are often positioned at the back of a restaurant - close to the operational and managerial area - which could give criminals the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the restaurant without being noticed. They could also seize the opportunity to grab a staff member and create an armed hostage situation from the inside with partners in crime flocking to the scene from the outside.
• Install panic buttons or portable armed response activating devices. Install panic buttons connected to your security company in strategic, unseen places within your restaurant or shop and make sure that management and senior staff are aware of them. Arm staff members who move around frequently with portable armed response activating devices.
• Educate your staff. Inform staff of the various security threats and current crime trends and implement strict house rules regarding security to be upheld at all times. If possible, enrol your key staff members to complete a self-defence course to increase awareness and skill around reacting appropriately should your restaurant be a target of a criminal attack.
• Lock up! Keep all restaurant windows and doors locked until you officially start trading.
• Install a drop safe. Although the initial cash outlay may be fairly high for smaller businesses, the long term benefit of installing a drop safe from a safety perspective is worth it. Decide on an amount and instruct the manager on duty to deposit that amount into the drop safe as soon as it becomes available. In this way you can safeguard your business against large sums of money being stolen at any one time.
• Monitor your opening and closing times. Many armed response companies offer a service whereby they monitor your opening and closing times by means of an armed response vehicle or foot patrol. More likely than not the presence of a security patrol will deter robbers from actually committing the crime. When closed to the public either first thing after opening or just before closing, keep doors and windows securely locked at all times.
• In case of emergency (ICE), call the CID. If your business is located within a City Improvement District (CID) and you find yourself in an emergency situation, call the CID 24hr patrol vehicle number. The CID patrol vehicles are in direct contact with SAPS and can assist in times of need. Don’t hesitate to call for help in fear that it will be a false alarm. When in doubt, make the call. If you are located in the Oranje-Kloof CID you can call 082 217 1386 and in the Green Point CID call 082 214 3228.
Important emergency numbers
Please programme these emergency numbers into your mobile phone.
24 hour emergency - Police Services
• 107 – All emergency number
• 021 467 8092 – SAPS - CBD
• 021 430 3700 – SAPS - Sea Point
• 021 596 1999 – Traffic Metro, 24 hour control
Green Point CID contact numbers
• 082 214 3228 – GP CID Patrol Vehicle
• 071 670 3019 – GP CID 24 hour control
Oranje-Kloof CID contact numbers
• 082 217 1386 – OK CID Patrol Vehicle
• 071 670 3019 – GP CID 24 hour control
For more information on the Oranje-kloof and Green Point City Improvement Districts and up to date information on the area, visit www.okcid.co.za or www.gpcid.co.za
