May 15, 2010 10:23 PM | By SHANAAZ EGGINGTON
South Africans are under siege. House robberies have rocketed by nearly 100% in just five years.
The shocking increase in home robberies - where the victims are present, unlike during burglaries - across the country is laid bare in a new book, Home Invasion, by police detective-turned-academic, Professor Rudolph Zinn.
Zinn's research into the phenomenon has been used by police to implement new strategies to tackle the scourge.
Zinn, a senior lecturer at the School of Criminal Justice and Police Practice at the University of South Africa, is convinced house robbers are "the most callous of criminals".
"The brutal assault on baby Marzaan Kruger and her minder, Francina Sekhu, is a sad example of how violent these robberies are," he said.
Baby Marzaan, aged one, is still in critical condition after being pistol-whipped during an armed robbery at her home in Randburg, Johannesburg, on April 22.
One of her alleged attackers, Chakhoma Machaba, was a "trusted friend" of Sekhu.
Zinn's research revealed that eight out of 10 robberies were committed by criminals who had been fed information by people known to their victims.
Official police figures show there were 18438 residential robberies reported during 2008/9 - an increase of 97.2% since 2003/4, when the total was 9351.
The book is based on research Zinn did for a PhD which he obtained from Unisa in 2008 after conducting interviews with convicted house robbers in Gauteng jails.
He found that house robbers, on average, were in their 20s yet already experienced criminals who often had committed more than 100 crimes before being arrested.
"I was struck by how well prepared and organised these criminals are. They gather information on their intended target for days and weeks before they attack," Zinn said.
"They are prepared to watch a house or farm for a long time. In one instance they watched a particular house for four months before they struck," he said.
They also used torture techniques during robberies, such as burning victims with boiling water, melted plastic or hot irons and used rape, or the threat of rape, as a means of establishing where valuables were hidden.
And in many cases the robbers were not deterred by alarms, armed response or dogs.
The book also shatters myths about house robberies, for instance that criminals "mark" their targets by placing an object on the pavement or tying a ribbon to a fence.
"Cellphones have made these obsolete. Criminals take pictures and SMS directions," said Zinn.
After Zinn published his thesis, he made it available to the police, who in turn did a case docket analysis of 1000 residential robbery cases. Their findings concurred with Zinn's research.
"The police have implemented new policing initiatives. They have also created a new unit within crime intelligence that will deal with the debriefing of criminals behind bars," said Zinn.
"They have approached our department for help to train their researchers."
Zinn's book quotes a report by the Institute for Security Studies which says that only 12.5% of cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances end up on the desks of state prosecutors.
Sunday Times
Comments by Sonny
When will the 'new generals' win the battle on crime?
Johannesburg – Altesaam 347 dorpe gaan op 19 Mei aan ‘n nasionale protesoptog teen misdaad deelneem, het die Solidariteitbeweging Sondag gesê.In ‘n verklaring sê die beweging – opgemaak deur Solidariteit, AfriForum en Helpende Hand – dit sal die grootste misdaadoptog nog in Suid-Afrika wees. Memorandums sal aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) in klein dorpies en stede oorhandig word, van die Wes-Kaap tot die noorde. In landelike gebiede, sal verskeie besighede glo hul deure sluit en verskeie skole sal ook deelneem aan die optog, of leerders sal rooi dra, het Dirk Hermann, adjunkhoof van Solidariteit, gesê.“Duisende Suid-Afrikaners sal na verwagting op daardie dag rooi dra.” Hermann het bygevoeg dat die land nooit mag toelaat dat misdaad ‘n normale deel van die samelewing word nie.“Ons moet protes aanteken om te wys dit is nie normaal nie. Maar ons gaan nie net protes aanteken nie... ons wil ook die geleentheid gebruik om ‘n beroep op gemeenskappe te doen om in samewerking met die SAPD betrokke te raak by inisiatiewe vir gemeenskapsveiligheid.”Volgens Hermann sal Suid-Afrika 'n veiliger plek wees ná 19 Mei, as die optog suksesvol was.- Sapa
ReplyDeleteWe must all let our voices be heard!!
ReplyDelete_______________________________________________________________________________
ReplyDeleteDear Branch Executive,
Direct communication with branches outside the National Branch Chairmans’ Forum by the
President is an exceptional occurrence. This became necessary because of the prevailing tense
conditions in South Africa which cannot be delayed until the next NBCF.
We are all aware of the highly tensed situation in South Africa which possibly the worse in sixteen
years. Structures in the Government are under pressure and seem to be collapsing over a wide
front. Criminality and corruption are penetrating every level of our society causing destruction.
Infrastructure [especially roads] and security in rural areas has degenerated to a stage where in
instances South Africa is termed a failed state something that is typical to third world countries.
Within this context murder of farmers, rumours of the nationalisation of mines and expropriation
of farmland negatively influence the mental state and the future expectation of people. In short,
people are feeling unsafe and insecure. This in many instances may cause underlying aggression
specifically towards the ANC Government and even Black people in general.
It is not my duty to prescribe to members their political opinions and orientations as SAHGCA is a
non-political organization and has no political agenda. We are an Association grounded on our
love for hunting and conservation where the possession of fire arms within the stipulations of the
law, is a fundamental requirement.
The purpose of this letter is to sensitise branch executives to be aware of the possibility that
exigency may arise to apply fire arms for purposes other than hunting or sport shooting. The
Association requests Branch Executives as leaders in their communities to promote and maintain
the responsible keeping of fire arms according to what SAHGCA stands for.
Branch Executives should take care for branches not to get involved with security initiatives as
branches or regional community protection activities as that hinge on military or policing actions.
There are other organizations and structures through which such activities should be dealt with.
Should the SAHGCA members use as members hunting and sports fire arms for aforementioned
purposes that would halt civil possession of fire arms in its tracks. This would allow the anti-gun
lobby and the authorities to prohibit private fire arm ownership or to scale it down to a level of
insignificance.
I trust that you will give this your full support and co-operation in this matter. You are invited for
your commentary which can be sent to pieter.potgieter@nwu.ac.za
With kind regards,
Pieter Potgieter
President SAHGCA
10.05.2010
Plot 3, Mountain Drive 7 / Plot 3, 7 Mountain Drive, Derdepoort Tel: (012) 808-9300
Posbus / PO Box 1952, Montana Park, 0159 Faks / Fax : (012) 808 9344
E-pos / Email: admin@sahunt.co.za Web: www.sahunt.co.za