Silverstar contributes to community security

All routes are covered by this camera positioned at Ford on the corner of Voortrekker and Shannon Road.

Pictured from left to right:

Jason Beckley (First Aider and Patroller); Sharon Nortje (Patroller); Constable Baloyi (SAPS Sector 8 Manager); Sargent Radebe (SAPS Sector 4 Commander); Cathy Fornell (Patroller and First Aider); Sharday vd Berg (Exco member, Patroller, Operations co-ordinator and Disaster management co-ordinator)

Silverstar Casino’s (https://www.tsogosun.com/silverstar-casino) community caring is extending to an effective anti-crime initiative beyond the perimeter of the property in collaboration with the local SAPS and Community Policing Forum, which is showing positive results.

Alerted to heightened crime at intersections and other hot spots near the casino in 2016, Silverstar management worked together with local law enforcement authorities and identified four locations for CCTV security equipment installation, and funded the purchase, installation and running costs of 12 Hikvision cameras, four digital video recorders, and three mast poles.

According to Sgt Radebe, Krugersdorp SAPS, Sector 4 Commander, “Crime has reduced drastically since the cameras were installed at the four hot spots. Our aim as SAPS is to reduce crime and with the cameras, we are able to prevent crime. The cameras have also assisted with the tracing of suspects and we have been able to pick up registrations of vehicles, for example in a hit and run. We can trace the perpetrators and to their surprise, pick them up at home thinking they got away with it.”

Specific criminal activity that has reduced significantly under camera surveillance includes smash and grabs, carjacking, reckless and negligent driving, armed robbery, rape, assault, theft, and drug-related.

Adele Wilson, Silverstar’s CSI Manager, says, “Silverstar has partnered with the Sector 4 CPF in Krugersdorp and the local SAPS in a number of initiatives and we are all committed to the safety and security of the local community. Crime prevention must be an ongoing concern for everyone – government, the private sector, and the community at large – and Silverstar will continue to be involved where possible.”

With the school holidays around the corner, Wilson and the CPF devised some useful security tips for holiday-makers:

Security tips for the holiday

• Attend your local CPF meetings
• Inform the CPF when you will be away
• Apply the advice you receive from the CPF
• Hire a house sitter
• Get family or friends to empty your post box
• Install day / night lights
• Ask someone to mow the lawn, draw the blinds and close curtains
• Be careful with social media – posting holiday pics immediately shows you are not home
• Lock everything
• Install a bracket on your gate in order for criminals not to lift it off its rails
• Secure your gate motor
• Don’t leave spare keys out
• Store valuables in a safe or at a family member’s or friend’s home
• Ask a neighbour to take out your council bin on refuse collection day