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Technology and partnerships with private security companies are vital in the fight against crime. This is the opinion of the new Avon-Tijger Neighbourhood Watch chair, Riaan de Jager.
De Jager believes that technology such as cameras can aid in catching those breaking the law. It is with this in mind that they took steps to further enable themselves as a neighbourhood watch.
“We started with a project with Goodwood Armed Patrols (GAP), 18 months or so ago. I had the idea of using technology to assist us with patrolling and obviously curbing crime. We reached out to GAP and the owner and I had a meeting. He bought into the idea and said they would donate technology such as cameras, and within the last months we installed four human-detection cameras as well as two LPR cameras, which is a massive bonus and plus for our neighbourhood.
“It was a donation, and we did not pay for anything. It is working like a charm; it is proactive monitoring,” De Jager says.
The neighbourhood watch says they have plans to expand on their techonological infrastructure.
“For the next two years, the plan is to invest more into technology, more cameras in strategic places, again with GAP. We try and use technology to assist us to be proactive in our patrols or if we need footage for any crime that is being committed,” says De Jager.
Residents urged to join
He says the community are encourged to join.
“We encourage residents to join the neighbourhood watch, even if it is a 30-minute patrol, once a week or once a month. Reach out to us, the more the better. We can only do so much. We do quite a lot of patrols, basically every single day of the week, at different times of the day and night, so we encourage anyone that want to join to call us,” De Jager says.
He thanked all the residents and private security companies who currently continue to assist them in what they are doing.
The neighbourhood watch held their annual meeting recently at the NG kerk Oosterzee where a new committee was elected. Roger Cannon, ward councillor, and Reagen Allen, Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, also attended.
“The minister gave us a speech and feedback on policing. He also encouraged the community to open their cases and if they do not get service, they need to escalate it.
“We also had to reapply for our accreditation last year, and that was successful, so we just provided an update to the community as not everyone is aware of how that process works,” says De Jager.
