On patrol with the Neighbourhood Watch
The group met just after midnight, and the next three hours were spent driving and walking the streets of Empangeni
AS many residents settle in for the night, a dedicated group of people prepare to head out onto the dark streets of Empangeni.
They take time from their personal lives to be on the frontline of crime prevention, paying out of their own pocket for the fuel they use to do patrols.
They ask only for a safe neighbourhood as reward.
The Empangeni Neighbourhood Watch and Patrol Groups started out as the Kildare Crime Crew in May this year and now patrol many times a week, on alternative days and times.
On patrol
I was invited to patrol with the group on Saturday night, to learn first-hand what they do.
Just after midnight, the group met at a location in Kildare, where the strategy for the night was discussed.
The patrol leader reminded all present to keep their eyes open for suspicious activity, and to always wait for back-up if they spotted anything.
A surprising number of vehicles and people were there, from different suburbs in town.
The next three hours were spent driving and walking the streets, checking out the areas identified as escape routes used by criminal elements.
Despite the night being rather uneventful, with no activity in the patrol areas, Eyethu Bay Watch can report the group is well organised and motivated, staying in constant communication with each other.
Frontline
The patrol formation is relatively simple, with notification about patrol details being kept to a minimum and secretive so criminals are not informed beforehand.
The patrols have had some successes in recent weeks, with a few suspects being handed over to police, who approve of the initiative.
The Empangeni Neighbourhood Watch now needs your help.
These folks are forking out their own cash to fund the initiative, and could use all the help they can get.
‘We are in desperate need of funding to help us afford photocopies of flyers and other documents, car magnets for patrolling members, torches, vests and very soon, stickers for our homes and larger signs for our areas,’ said one of the organising members.
The patrols, which started out only in Kildare, now include Fairview, Nyala Park, Grantham Park and Richem.
If you wish to contribute, or get your neighbourhood involved, contact 071 2413392.
The members wish to remain anonymous at this stage, owing to threats they received recently.
