The GP/OKCID experienced an impressive 56.9% decrease in incidents of crime during the first two months of lockdown, when compared to statistics from the same period in 2019.
May 2020 was a quieter month crime-wise, with only 8 incidents reported. 5 out of 8 total arrests were for house break-ins and theft, 2 were for shoplifting, and 1 was for general theft.
It is likely that this significant reduction in crime is influenced by our additional services, including routine checks of residential complexes and commercial buildings to ensure that all doors and windows are secured, as well as our escort service to those who feel unsafe while walking in the area.
Our security officers have also helped to enforce lockdown curfews by ensuring no-one was walking around between 20h00 and 05h00. A big thank you goes out to our team for remaining on the front line during these uncertain times, working around the clock.
However, as we are now in lockdown level 3, and regulations have started to relax, we expect crime rates to rise along with the level of movement, specifically car and truck hijackings, business robberies, and house robberies, according to the pattern in our latest arrests. So please remember to stay vigilant and cautious, and to avoid unnecessary movement as much as is possible, for your safety, but more importantly for your health.
Don’t forget to wear a mask while out in public, out of respect for our fellow residents. While wearing a mask may not prevent you from contracting the virus, it prevents those who may unknowingly have COVID-19 from spreading it to those around them. Also remember to wash your mask often, and use hand sanitiser when arriving home or entering a shopping centre or public place.
Remember to keep our 24 patrol vehicle numbers on hand for assistance:
GP CID PATROL VEHICLE
082 214 3228
OK CID PATROL VEHICLE
082 217 1386
