Whilst I absolutely agree that, once identified, the hot spots should have more of a police presence - I also agree with the police that motorists make it easier for would be criminals to do the smash and grab thing by leaving valuables on the seats in full view of any one who cares to look into the car.
Come on people, it's a no brainer! Don't leave stuff on the seats - put it under the seats or into the boots.
Drivers on edge as smash-and-grabs increase
Graeme Hosken
November 20 2006 at 04:57AM
Police are not doing enough to protect motorists from crime, say Tshwane residents angry at an increase in hijackings and smash-and-grab incidents at city intersections. Tshwane Metro Police this week provided the Pretoria News with detailed information on hotspots and danger zones when it came to hijackings, armed robberies and smash-and-grab attacks. According to the Metro Police, there are more than 20 dangerous intersections in Pretoria with entire streets in and around the city being declared potential "no go" areas by law enforcement authorities. Metro Police have set up a team of policemen equipped with assault rifles and high-powered cars who patrol Pretoria's highways on a 24-hour basis.
'Every day is a driving hell'
But motorists complain that other than putting up boards warning of hijackers the police are not doing enough. "Every day is a driving hell," said Sarah de Villiers, who has been a victim of a hijacking and four smash-and-grab attacks at the Atterbury/N1 intersection in the past nine months. She said she was puzzled by the fact that there were no police visible at the intersection."I understand that people must be constantly aware of dangerous intersections, but surely at a known hotspot there should be police visibility, especially at peak hours," she said. De Villiers said what she found even more puzzling were the "Be Aware For Your Own Safety" boards. "Why don't the police tell us exactly what we are meant to be aware of? What exactly are we meant to be on the look out for?" she asked.
David Ngcobo of Mamelodi said he had lost count of the number of times he had been a victim of smash-and-grab attackers along Hans Strijdom Drive. "Where are the police? What exactly are they doing?" he asked. "They should be visible on the roads," he said.
Thomas Saunders of Centurion said he feared for his children's lives every time he took them to school."It is madness. The police have to do something to put an end to these attacks at city intersections once and for all. They should stop telling motorists that it is up to them and actually do something about making this city a safe place to live and work in," he said.
Some of the worst affected highways, main roads and streets include the N1, N4, Ben Schoeman, Botha Avenue, the R55 and Simon Vermooten - declared "danger zones" by the Metro Police. On the N1 between the John Vorster and Lynnwood Road off-ramps there are five hijacking and smash-and-grab hotspots, while on the N4 between Watermeyer Road and Simon Vermooten off-ramps there are three hijacking, armed robbery and smash-and-grab danger zones. Other hotspot intersections are in the suburbs of Garsfontein, Hatfield, Sunnyside, Silverton, Wonderboompoort and Brooklyn. In Garsfontein, the hotspot intersections are Lynnwood and Hans Strijdom and Delfi and Garsfontein while in Sunnyside the dangerous corners are all intersections in Walker and Duncan streets and Nelson Mandela Drive. In Brooklyn, the dangerous intersections can be found along the entire length of Hilda and Burnett streets and all of the traffic lights at the Atterbury off and on-ramps. On the Ben Schoeman Highway the Jean Avenue intersection has been flagged as a danger zone along with the corners of Cantonments and Botha avenues, University and Lynnwood roads and Beyers Naude Drive and Paul Kruger Street.
Ronald Mashakeng, a commander in the Tshwane Metro Police, who confirmed the establishment of a specialised highway patrol unit, said police worked closely with community policing forums, e-Blockwatch, the SAPS and other law enforcement bodies when it came to policing intersections. Police spokesperson Inspector Anton Breedt could not say how many hotspot intersections there were in Pretoria. He said he could not provide details of dangerous intersections "as they are constantly changing as crime in the city shifts". Breedt urged motorists to be constantly vigilant and to approach intersections with "the necessary caution, especially those which are badly lit and are surrounded by dense bushes". Motorists created opportunities for attacks by leaving valuables on their front seats.
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