According to Dave Charteris, manager of Rhodes University’s Campus Protection Unit (CPU), new students must take time to familiarise themselves with the campus and city centre to lessen their chances of being affected by petty crime.
According to Dave Charteris, manager of Rhodes University’s Campus Protection Unit (CPU), new students must take time to familiarise themselves with the campus and city centre to lessen their chances of being affected by petty crime.
Charteris, who has headed up the CPU for 23 years, says students are often vulnerable to “being hoodwinked” by local syndicates because they are “unfamiliar with the campus and they aren’t streetwise yet.
You get students coming from big cities and they don’t expect to be the victim of crime here,” he says. André Wille, manager of Hi-Tec Security in Grahamstown says student related theft accounts for 60% of their reported cases, even though students only comprise about 20% of their client base.
“Students really are targeted heavily in this regard. Negligence is the most common problem where they are concerned because students are in and out of their digs and often don’t lock up properly.
Criminals look out for students at pubs and follow them home because they are sure to find valuables there,” he says.
Charteris warns that criminals “hang out at local pubs and befriend students. They visit them at their digs and often return later when the student is out and clean them out.”
According to Charteris and Wille, valuable accessories such as cellphones and laptops account for the majority of cases and Charteris says this is because “syndicates send word that they are looking for a particular product and will pay a standard amount for the goods.
People are tempted and steal the goods for cash,” he says. this includes not giving money to beggars, especially if they come knocking at your door. Charteris says students should use their common sense when it comes to being safe.
“If you’re working late in the library and you need to walk home, don’t think of going alone. Make contact with CPU and we’ll dispatch guards to make sure you are safe.”
Wille strongly suggests that female students never walk alone at night, and that it is much safer to walk in groups.
“After a night at the Rat and Parrot some female students walk home alone and they run into trouble. Although violent crime is minimal here students should still be extra careful,” he says.
Kenny Knoetze, a member of Hi-Tec’s armed response unit says students should make sure their belongings are safely put away before leaving their rooms or digs, because “insurance will not pay for goods that have been stolen due to n egligence”.
