{"id":215078,"date":"2019-08-18T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-18T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/215078\/motorists-urged-to-stay-alert-at-all-times\/"},"modified":"2019-08-16T14:20:58","modified_gmt":"2019-08-16T12:20:58","slug":"motorists-urged-to-stay-alert-at-all-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/08\/18\/motorists-urged-to-stay-alert-at-all-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorists urged to stay alert at all times"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Germiston SAPS has warned motorists to stay alert at all times when travelling in and around the city.<\/p>\n<p>This warning comes after a high number of smash-and-grabs at traffic lights have been reported.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>\u201cCommunity members have developed a habit of driving with their valuables in their vehicles,\u201d said Const Maxwell Mabunda, communications officer for the Germiston police.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis attracts criminals, especially when they find the vehicle stationary at red robots or in parking bays.\u201d<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<h4><strong>Safety tips to prevent smash-and-grabs:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>\u2022 Plan your route in advance.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Keep the doors locked and keep your window closed.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Do not leave your mobile phone or other valuables where they are visible from outside the vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Lock valuable items in the boot before your departure.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 At night, park in well-lit areas.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Never pick up strangers or hitchhikers.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 If in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advice and help.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Your life is more valuable than your possessions, do not reach for your purse or valuables, leave everything behind if forced from the car.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cReports of delivery trucks and vans being robbed are also on the rise because most truck drivers do not close their door properly while offloading goods,\u201d said Mabunda.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile you are offloading and talking to customers, criminals can easily make their way into your front seats and steal valuables you have left there.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShould you go inside a shop or an office during a delivery, ensure that your vehicle is locked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCriminals are constantly watching for loopholes in order to rob you, stay alert.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Security tips for truck drivers:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Do not leave your vehicle unlocked, even if you think you will be only be away for a short time.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Avoid stopping in remote places.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 If a stranger wants to talk to you while in your vehicle, do not open the window wide, 5cm is enough to have a discussion.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Vary the route you travel to and from work, if this is possible.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Hijackers may stage a minor accident so they can approach your car, be alert.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Purchase an anti-theft device, such as gear lock, for further security measures.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Keep yourself and your family safe at home:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Know your sector and emergency numbers, and have them displayed in an accessible area.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 When leaving your house, always let someone know where you are going and how long you will be gone.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Know your neighbours.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Ensure that your home is secure.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Report suspicious behaviour to the police.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Thoroughly screen your domestic workers before you employ them.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Double check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving your home.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Do not leave gardening tools (spades, stepladders etc.) outside, as criminals can use these to break into your home.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Do not allow unidentified government employees into your yard.<\/p>\n<p>General tips:<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Do not buy stolen goods.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Do not withdraw large sums of money at once while travelling alone.<\/p>\n<p>\u2022 Do not lend your ID to anyone.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>ALSO READ:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/214019\/women-encouraged-to-keep-themselves-safe\/\" target=\"_blank\">Women encouraged to keep themselves safe<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<h4><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/212953\/warning-tips-not-traffic-light-robbery-victim-2\/\" target=\"_blank\">Warning \u2013 Tips on how not to be a traffic light robbery victim<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Hav<\/strong><strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-admin\/germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\">germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:leighh@caxton.co.za\">leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Also follow us on:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/germistoncitynews\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-210323\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Facebook.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"62\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a class=\"anchor_post\" 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src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/youtube.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"62\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/newsletter-signup\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-210327 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Newsletter.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"62\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"stream-item stream-item-below-post-content\">\n<div class='tenancy_slot tenancy_slot_1 jannah_ad' style='display: none;' data-query-id='43cc5cf7ecd3cbaf0a45fcec6b065420'><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Security tips for motorists from the Germiston police.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1848,"featured_media":215099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Kgotsofalang Mashilo","cxt_disable_google_ads":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[23244,19200,28497,1032,1136,28500,16779,28503,28498,28501,28502,1532,28499],"class_list":["post-215078","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news-headlines","tag-communications-officer-for-the-germiston-police","tag-const-maxwell-mabunda","tag-delivery-trucks","tag-germiston-saps","tag-hijack","tag-hitchhikers","tag-kgotsofalang-mashilo","tag-know-your-neighbours","tag-lock-valuable-items-in-the-boot","tag-motorists-urged-to-stay-alert-at-all-times","tag-report-suspicious-behaviour","tag-smash-and-grab","tag-stay-alert"],"amp_enabled":true,"category_labels":{"Category":"News","SubCategory":"Local news"},"tag_labels":["communications officer for the Germiston police","Const Maxwell Mabunda","delivery trucks","germiston saps","hijack","hitchhikers","Kgotsofalang Mashilo","Know your neighbours","Lock valuable items in the boot","Motorists urged to stay alert at all times","Report suspicious behaviour","smash-and-grab","stay 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