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Kerry Massey of Pumula Crime Watch.
“The biggest concern, it was agreed, was to ensure the beaches were safe.“
Crime fighters from Umtentweni to Hibberdene gathered for a safety and security meeting at Southport police station last Tuesday to discuss the upcoming holiday season.
The meeting, initiated by the team from Pumula Crime Watch, pointed out that it paid to be proactive and not to wait for criminals to begin their ‘hunting season’.
“We need to put measures in place to ensure our beaches and suburbs are safe during the holiday season,” said PCW’s Kerry Massey, adding that the groups extended grateful thanks to the police and security companies for always assisting them.
All security providers, holiday resort gatekeepers, officials from tourism, law enforcement and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife were invited to attend the meeting.
The biggest concern, it was agreed, was to ensure the beaches were safe for visitors and locals. The advice for beachgoers? Do NOT take any valuables to the beach and always be alert to what is happening around you.
People were also reminded that if they see a suspicious person or vehicle in their suburb not to be a hero. Be sensible – don’t get out of the car or confront them. Report it, remembering that holiday homes should ensure that emergency contact numbers are readily available for guests.
Crime prevention measures have been put in place as follows:
* Pumula Beach Hotel will have a full-time guard, while Pumula Crime Watch is fund-raising to have a guard stationed at the Pumula launch site.
* Umtentweni has six functional cameras covering areas such as the beachfront, the whale deck, the Abingdon Road Spar parking lot, the Rethman Drive/Link Road intersection and the recycling bins in Commercial Road.
* Sunwich Port residents have volunteered to conduct random patrols during holiday season. Tessa Ribeiro – initiator of the Sunwich Port Crime Stop WhatsApp group – said that these volunteers would provide more eyes and ears on the ground. She thanked Lazer Security for providing a two-way radio for these volunteers.
Here is a list of numbers to contact in case of emergency:
* Police at 10111.
* Lazer Security’s control room at 039 682 0229. You don’t necessarily have to be a Lazer client.
* Be the eyes and ears in your suburb and join a Whatsapp group in your area:
– Tweni: Leila Edwards at 082 3761853.
– Sea Park: Juanita at 073 2561334.
– Sunwich Port: Tessa Ribeiro at 076 3521150.
– Pumula: Kerry Massey at 083 9467042 or southportgarden@hotmail.com.
– Umzumbe area: George Watson at 082 9025505 or Janine at 083 7609609.
– Hibberdene: Eugene Halliday and Tanya Pelser of Azasos at azasosprot@hibberdene.co.za or 039 6991051, 071 4020765 or 084 6991473.
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