DURBAN – The Umbilo Community Policing Forum (CPF) has reminded everyone that the festive season was also the time when all types of crimes escalated across Durban.
CPF chairperson Heather Roos provided tips on how to be vigilant and safe this festive season.
Roos said as the shops get busy and people are standing in long queues waiting to pay for their goods, pickpockets are out and about in full force.
“Remember these look like your everyday shopper, can be old ladies, young girls, a married couple, young boys, single male or females, you would never suspect them, but they are in the crowds waiting for their victims.”
“While you bend over to get stuff out of your trolley, or to pay, your bag that's hanging on your shoulder that you are too busy to notice, will already have their fingers in your bag fishing for your cellphone or wallet. They are so professional you won’t feel it, once they have your wallet or phone, they will somehow disappear out of the line and go before you or anyone notices,” Roos said.
She appealed to women to hold their bags in front of them at all times and when reaching for items on shelves, wedge their bag between their person and the counter while holding on to it tightly. The best bags to use while shopping are the ones that go over the shoulder and across the body.
“Never ever, even for a split second leave your bag or packets from another store in your trolley or unattended, it will be gone in the blink of an eye, and stores are so full now, people around would not even notice,” Roos said.
She also said be careful of leaving cellphones in the front, back or side pockets of your pants, shorts or skirts, again easy to nip out your pocket, remember pickpockets are professional and do it so you do not feel. Another ploy is to bump into you, while removing your cellphone at the same time.
“So guard your valuables and personal items closely at all times.”
Roos went on to warn about bank cards.
She said lots of cloning of bank cards and scams were taking place, therefore people should guard their bank card at all times and not to let it out of their sight.
Watch when tapping or paying by card to see what the person is doing with your card, Roos said.
“At ATMs again watch who is around you, be extra careful when drawing money not to be followed. Do not let anyone offer to help you at the ATM, do not let anyone touch your bank card or touch buttons on the ATM when you draw money, if they do cancel immediately. Rather draw money at pay points in supermarkets, but again always watch your card and pay attention, do not be distracted or lose sight of your card.”
“Never ever give anyone your pin or bank account details. Especially to strangers, that includes over the phone, not to anyone. If you have a problem or you want to change or query something, physically go into your bank. Do not draw big sums of money, it is too dangerous, you never know who sees and alerts criminals of your whereabouts,” Roos said.
She added that pleaded that children should not be left alone in the shopping trolley because someone can snatch the child out the trolley and be gone.
“Never ask a stranger to look after, or hold your child or baby, again not even for a short while, criminals can also be sweet and nice and helpful, that's how they can lure their victims into their crime web. Hold onto your child's hands tightly at all times, do not let them run away from you, shops will be busy and they can get lost or find themselves in danger,” Roos continued.
“Do not send or let children or teenagers go to public toilets by themselves, not all are safe. Go with them.”
Roos also said people should not fall for sob stories told by people asking to use your phone because not all of them are genuine and they might steal your phone.
She said with hijacking, the same precautions and safety measures applied – watch where you park, watch when leaving your vehicle and returning to it to see who is around and double check your car is locked by physically checking doors are locked before walking away (this time of year remote jamming is in full swing especially at shopping centres and busy parking lots).
Roos added that the usual safety measures also applied at home during the day and night.
To comment on this story send a WhatsApp message to our BackChat column on 071 485 7995
Daily News