Armed robbery is on the increase and if you travel though Johannesburg CBD the chances are numerous that you will be mugged or hijacked.
Around sunset and late evening criminals patrol the streets. They walk in groups or close to each other ready to pounce on the unsuspecting victim. These criminals are armed with guns or knives.
Crime can happen anywhere but worse at Park Station, Jourbet Park and surroundings also in streets like Claim, Mooi, Twist and nugget. A mob of criminals will jump on the victim and seize anything valuable: wallet, cell phones, handbag, earrings and even shoes. The victim is then left on the ground sometimes with knife wounds.
Hundreds of unsuspecting victims have been robbed by these mobs of criminals. Last year at a Park in Kensington Suburb near Johannesburg CBD two couples were attacked, a woman was raped and the two husbands have been thrown into a lake by a group of criminals. In this case some suspects were arrested by police.
If you happen to walk in Johannesburg streets don’t trust strangers or people who ask to carry your bags. Usually most people who ask to carry your bags are thieves.
Some thieves will accuse you for stepping or bumping on them. Don’t be polite to anyone who accuses you for bumping on him. These are criminals looking for any opportunity to steal from you.
Avoid getting into crowds. Make sure your valuables are secure or hidden. If you are driving through CBD make sure you close all the windows, when you park your car double check if the doors are locked. Don’t leave valuables visible. Report any crime to police by dialing 112 or 10111.
The increase in Johannesburg crime is blamed on poverty and unemployment. According to Business Tech 2005 article, “the unemployment rate in the country was 34.9% in the second quarter, compared to 36.1% in the first quarter.”
David Maynier, DA shadow minister of finance reported that ,“About 321 000 people, who wanted a job, could not find a job, defined merely as ‘work for at least one hour’, in the first six months of 2015,” According to Maynier about 5.2 million people have no jobs. If Millions of South Africans have no jobs it means the situation is desperate.
On the other hand criminals have no fear of the law. Many people believe that criminals in South Africa when arrested have more rights than their victims.
The author is a freelance Journalist who can be contacted by email: johnny@johnnyf.co.za
To support this Journalist send your donation by PayPal to: johnny@johnnyf.co.za
Author: Johnny Forthright.
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