It is everyone's responsibility to help protect Hout Bay. Every false alarm distracts your Armed Response Officer from responding to positive incidents. Positive incidents account for less than 1% of actual reponses. There were approx. 20,000 alarm activations in Hout Bay in the month of December. This represents a significant wastage of manpower. We have a target of reducing false alarms by 50%. Please do your bit to help. Below is a list of the top ten reasons for false alarms. The biggest cause is ‘finger problems’ by clients. If you do set your alarm off accidently please phone your Armed Response company or Watchcon to cancel the activation.
1. Finger trouble. The alarm is activated while arming/disarming the system. Remedy – Familiarize yourself with the system, or call the alarm installation company.
2. Doors and windows not secured correctly. Activations can be caused by draughts or wind. Remedy –Secure all doors and windows properly before setting the alarm
3. Technical malfunction. The system has a fault and thus generates false signals. Remedy – Call the alarm installation company and rectify.
4. Incorrect installation. Incorrect use of detection devices such as internal detection devices being used externally. Remedy – Use an approved installer.
5. Insects. Ants and spiders can nest in devices. Remedy – Have your alarm system inspected, tested and serviced regularly.
6. Sun reflection. Sunlight may shine directly onto or reflect onto infra red detection devices and cause them to activate. Remedy – Call the alarm installation company and rectify.
7. Foliage for outside detectors. External beams require line-of-sight between them. Remedy – Ensure that external beams are not impeded by foliage and if necessary trim.
8. Animals and pets. Animals are kept in homes that do not have “pet friendly” detection devices. Remedy - Call the alarm installation company and upgrade the alarm system to accommodate the pet requirements
9. Forgetfulness (ie that the alarm is armed). Client forgets that the system is armed and the alarm is activated while entering or exiting the residence. Remedy - Have LED indicators installed to show that the system is armed.
10. Children. Children are able to reach and press panic buttons. Remedy – Educate children to use the panic buttons correctly, or raise the height of these buttons.
This security message is courtesy of Coastal Security Services.
Bruce Taylor memorial trophy - nominations invited
At Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch’s annual social functions, the Bruce Taylor Memorial Trophy is presented to the person who has received the most votes, from fellow members, because they are considered deserving of recognition for their contribution to the watch over the past year.
There are many NW volunteers, some perhaps not quite as well-known as others, who generously give of their time and resources. They are involved because they care and because they want to make a difference in their community. Let's hear who, in your opinion, rates an honourable mention. Login and find out more>>
Love your Neighbour - HBNW Spit-braai and Dance
Please contact Keith by e-mail or SMS to place your name on a waiting list, should we get any drop-outs - keithbull007@yahoo.co.uk or 076 036 2342.
Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch is holding a spit-braai at Riverside Estates, on Friday 10 February at 7.00pm. Replacing the annual dinner dance, this event is aimed at getting to know your neighbour better..........the foundation of all that Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch stands for.
This event is now sold out but we have a waiting list in case we have some drop-outs. For more info>>
17 Jan 2012 - Well done to the NSRI!
NSRI is one of the many amazing emergency response organisations that work through Watchcon, and add even more to the community spirit that Hout Bay is famous for. There has been quite a lot of NSRI activity on our Watchcon radios in the past few days. Because
Watchcon often plays an important role in NSRI efforts many people, who don’t have radios, are often unaware of what has been happening.
The night of 16th January is a case in point. In the words of Brad Geyser, Station commander of NSRI Station 8, Hout Bay, "Last night was hairy!"
The pictues below taken by Rob Fine illustrate the rescue of yachtsman Bob Loana from San Diego USA, who enjoyed himself so much here in 2003, that he returned via Mossel Bay and Durban after sailing from USA. Bob says he has never seen such wind. It tore his Main sail in two.
As Brad says, "He will be staying for awhile at the HBYC doing repairs and hopefully enjoying Hout Bay again."
NSRI were very supportive of HBNW during the Beach Safety Project and last Sunday were again busy in the bay, backed up by police divers and a rescue helicopter, in the search for a missing youngster.
In the words of Julie Banham, HBNW Chairperson "Listening in, I was reminded how blessed we are in Hout Bay to have such a slick and professional sea rescue unit."
9 Jan 2012 - Hout Bay SAPS send out an urgent warning to home owners, visitors and the general public
Hout Bay has experienced a spate of house robberies over this festive season. SAPS urges the community to be more vigilant during 2012.
Homes are being watched, as are the movements of the owners, by the perpetrators. The victims often do not activate alarms, beams, do not lock their doors and they leave windows wide open, which creates an invitation for criminal activities. Even if you live in a private or secure estate, all precautions should be taken. Read more >>
2 Jan 2012 - Hout Bay SAPS: Suspects arrested and belongings recovered on Hout Bay beach
On Monday, 2nd of January 2012, (early evening) two ladies were robbed of their belongings by gun point on the Hout Bay beach. When the complainants reported the incident to Hout Bay SAPS, the members went to the beach after receiving a description of the two suspects. The Crime Prevention members spotted the two suspects and brought both suspects in for questioning. Read the full SAPS media report >>
You can depend on the Hout Bay Area Marshalls
Sentinel - 21 Dec 2011.
Exactly 10 years ago Mike Rigg, a member of CERT (Hout Bay's Civil Emergency Response Team) along with Pitchou Tombani set up the area marshal program with the aim of providing safe, reliable car guarding in Hout Bay.
At the time informal car guards also dabbled in drug dealing and other criminal activities.There are still illegitimate car guards around, often with old and tattered bibs. Residents and visitors are asked not to support them.
Hout Bay's area marshals are carefully screened by SAPS and are provided with a clearly identifiable jacket and cap. Read the full story by Lindy Nauta>>
Validate your NW Identity Card
It is a requirement under Clause 12 of the ‘Western Cape Provincial Constitution and Code of Conduct for Neighbourhood Watch Structures’ that we must ensure all identity cards are validated annually.
Last year we introduced a simpler way of re-validating your HBNW membership cards. The option to have a new card made up (with a more recent photo) and pay the usual R10 was, and still is, in place. However, we also offered the option to have a validation sticker attached to your existing card.More info>>
Crime Stats
Some high level observations from the latest crime stats (24 January) are summarised below:
Reported Incidents of Theft have overtaken House Break-ins as the highest category of reported crime in Hout Bay.
Theft out of Motor Vehicle is the next highest reported category.
Beach Estate experienced the highest number of incidents of reported crime followed by Imizamo Yethu.Kronendal (Block 6) and Block 6 CBD are next in line for the latest period of reported crime.
Most reported crime is still happening in the evenings and afternoons.
More information available (you need to log in)
Crime Graphs by HBNW Block, type of crime, time of day
Daily Crime information (previously available on the HBNW Blog)
In the picture below, two laptops have been secured by a strong, lockable steel cable which is attached to a table leg or strong bolt underneath the table.The cable is very difficult to cut. All laptops have this facility and the cable is available at all computer shops.
The thief most likely doesn't walk around with a bolt cutter and probably won't have time to remove the cable.
With laptops being such desirable items in house robberies, we thank Robert, The Hireman for this handy tip. As he says, “Don’t think it can’t happen to me”.
We welcome input from our members so please pass on your security tips and, if relevant, we will publish them and acknowledge the contributor. Read more tips>>
We hope you will find it informative and easy to navigate. As with all websites, there is plenty of scope to grow and develop the content and general functionality.
Rest assured we have a number of ideas and plans in the pipeline that aim to keep the information fresh and relevant to the objectives of our neighbourhood watch. However we are always open to your ideas. Please contact us with your suggestions. Click here >>
New to Hout Bay
Welcome! Hout Bay has a small village atmosphere and loves to welcome new people. A great way to meet people and to get involved in the community is to join Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch.
There are many ways to get involved. If you can't patrol, then there are other ways for you to contribute to the community. See how you can get involved.
Thank you for taking our Nov/Dec poll. Here are the results:
Do you agree that Hout Bay is a great place to live?
58% - Yes definitely, I love living in Hout Bay
26% - Most of the time, I think the good outweighs the bad
10% - No, the crime in Hout Bay is worse than anywhere else
6% - I’m not sure, the perception of high crime worries me
Members' Forum
Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch is holding a spit-braai at Riverside Estates, on Friday 10 February at 7.00pm. Replacing the annual dinner dance, this event is aimed at getting to know your neighbour better..........the foundation of all that Hout Bay Neighbourhood Watch stands for.
