OH WATCH

Dear Good Resident of Oranjezicht and Higgovale

Crime never stops

This last week saw members of the neighbouhood watches and ADT and SAPS respond to an incident in Marmion Road. A woman had driven into her driveway and was in her car attaching the gear lock when she was confronted by two coloured males with firearms. They took her handbag and headed down the road to a grey Toyota RunX parked at the bottom of Marmion. Please be alert to vehicles following you or in the vicinity of your home. Rather drive away and alert your private armed response company before parking your car. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

License Plate Recognition (LRP) Cameras Show Early Successes

In the past week the LPR system sent out 14 alerts for vehicles that are either wanted by SAPS or have been identified as suspicious by neighbourhood watches and armed response companies throughout Cape Town. One such vehicle was loaded onto the LPR system as likely drug dealers, identified in the Bergvliet area and passed onto us. The LPR alert went out when the vehicle entered our area, and SAPS found the vehicle a while later driving down Molteno Road towards De Waal Park. They stopped the vehicle to search it. A small amount of dagga was found and the driver was arrested and taken to Cape Town Central.

Also in the past week, two vehicles that were possibly involved in housebreakings were identified. The information was handed over to the detectives at Cape Town Central, and upon checking the vehicles on their own system, SAPS found that one of the vehicles was wanted for a hijacking in Kuilsriver. This information now gives the detectives a starting point in their investigation, something which would not have been possible without the LPR system.

The estate agents board recently issued an alert to their members as some agents had been attacked at show houses across Cape Town. One of the vehicles identified by the victims was found through our LPR system. It had been operating as a Taxi in Kloof Street. This information was handed over to SAPS for further investigation, but if you see this vehicle, a green Mercedes C Class, Registration CA 875 800, see below, please monitor it and call SAPS on 021 467 8001/2.


Our thanks to all the patrollers checking the LPR alerts and assisting SAPS and to the over 160 households who have made financial contributions towards the cameras. Having added in the funds raised from our Heritage Day activities, a contribution by DPV Watch and CIBRA, the total raised thus far is an incredible R628k. We only have R42k stil to raise, and it all adds up, so if you have not contributed it is not too late. See bank details at end.

Ring found in the area

Has anyone lost a ring? If so, please describe where you lost it and what it looks like. A resident has found a ring and would like to return it to the owner.
Write to info@ohwatch.co.za.

Faulty streetlights reported to the City

Please report faulty streetlights as soon as you see them not working. You can do this via email to FaultReporting.Centre@capetown.gov.za and the City will provide you with a reference no. Please inform OH Watch on info@ohwatch.co.za

The following streetlights were reported during the last period:

Kensington Crescent
Roseberry Avenue
Breda Street

Alert from SAPS

SAPS cautions vehicle owners to check that their vehicle doors are in fact locked when using remote control devices, as criminals have found a way to block the remote sensor.

Haven Night Shelter Cards

Please support the City’s ‘Give Responsibly’ Campaign by not giving hand-outs directly to street people, but instead donating food, clothing, toys and money to organisations that serve the homeless. The Haven voucher cards can be bought or topped up at the Kloof Street KwikSpar.

Trauma counsellors

Volunteer trauma councillors are available to assist victims of crime in our area. Please make use of this free service or recommend it to anyone that has been a victim of crime. Training will be in place early next year for those people wishing to be trained as trauma councillors.

Oranjezicht City Farm (OZCF) Gets Underway

Digging is underway for the start of farming in our area. Please like the Oranjezicht City Farm Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/OZCFarm and sign up to receive updates on www.ozcf.co.za. OH Watch looks forward to the Harvest Festival in March 2013.

OH Watch Annual Subs now due for 2013

Many thanks to those of you who have paid your R200 annual membership fee during 2012. You can already pay your 2013 subs and if you haven’t paid your 2012 subscription, its also not too late.

Our banking details are:

Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Gardens
Branch code: 201511
Account number: 62212483680
Name of account: OH Watch
Ref: Surname/Subs/Year

As always, we welcome constructive criticism. Contact us with any suggestions you might have.

Check the OH Watch website (www.ohwatch.co.za) for safety tips to keep your mind at rest and others at bay and please sign up for our Facebook Page if you want to get more regular updates. http://www.facebook.com/groups/111868592175718

Yours in Safety

OH Watch Exco