The festive season is just around the corner, and residents of Newcastle are buzzing with preparations for the celebrations. However, in the midst of the joyful atmosphere, a troubling new crime pattern is surfacing in Newcastle, seemingly coinciding with the holiday hustle.
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Street vendors have become a familiar sight at numerous intersections throughout Newcastle, offering a range of items, from children’s toys to fresh fruit, enticing locals with their attractive prices and convenience.
However, the Newcastle Crime Policing Forum (CPF) has warned the community to proceed with caution when interacting with these vendors. Reports have surfaced that some vendors are pressuring drivers to lower their windows or pull over, only to subsequently become targets of theft.
This alert follows a recent event at the intersection of Victoria Road and Allen Street, where a female driver was approached by a vendor. Choosing to remain unnamed, the woman’s husband recounted the experience. He mentioned that his wife had stopped at the intersection when a man approached her car, trying to sell avocados. “He came up to the vehicle and urged my wife to lower her window, which she declined. The man then claimed there was damage to her car and insisted she pull over at once. She felt uncomfortable and opted to drive away, stopping at a nearby garage instead,” her husband recalled. Upon inspecting their vehicle at the garage, they found no damage whatsoever.
Moreover, this is not an isolated incident, as CPF’s Talha Randeree pointed out that many residents have reported similar encounters. Randeree emphasized that the increase in public reports has led the CPF to urge the community to remain vigilant as this crime trend continues to grow in Newcastle.
He elaborated, stating, “Residents have observed that some vendors are becoming increasingly aggressive, attempting to coerce community members into rolling down their windows to force goods into their vehicles before demanding further payment or trying to steal from them. Additionally, some vendors fabricate stories about vehicle troubles to lure drivers into pulling over,” Randeree explained.
While Randeree clarified that not all street vendors are involved in such behavior, he acknowledged that a handful of individuals are exploiting the busy holiday season to commit these crimes. He also stressed the necessity for vigilance among all residents when stopping at intersections, especially those often visited by vendors.
Furthermore, Amajuba District SAPS Spokesperson, Constable Nonjabulo Langa, provided practical advice for drivers, emphasizing the importance of not opening car windows or pulling over when approached with claims of vehicle issues. “Since you cannot determine their true intentions, for your safety, it’s best to avoid engaging with strangers at your window or stopping. Instead, proceed to a safe location to inspect your vehicle,” Langa advised.
Constable Langa also urged motorists to remain cautious at intersections and assured the public that the South African Police Service would take this issue seriously.
“The police will be working closely with the Newcastle Municipality to target these individuals and strive for a safer environment for our residents,” she pledged.
In light of this emerging crime trend, what are your views on the situation? We encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
