For 18 months now the Longhair and I have been taking the dogs for a walk in Settlers Park. We park in the new improved public parking off Chelmsford Avenue and wander through the park appreciating the bird and wildlife whilst the dogs swim and relax.
All through this time we have told people that we have never felt unsafe in the park. Admittedly when you are packing a German Shepard and a Bull Terrier it is easy enough to feel smug and safe. But, life has a crazy way of balancing that feeling of invincibility as, all along, we had forgotten about the one vulnerability that we had exposed ourselves to – leaving our vehicle unattended and not ‘guarded’ by our ‘vicious’ canines.
Walking back to the car yesterday (yes, the same one that had just been fitted with brand new tyres courstesy of Continental) we met with a party of three guys who enquired if the white bakkie was ours and were sorry to report that the passenger side window had been smashed. Of course we had left valuables in the car – as the sign at the entrance advises walkers to not carry valuables on their person. In retrospect, how doff is that? It was with sinking hearts that we made our sad way back to the Chelmsford Avenue parking area.
Earlier we had been discussing the security situation in the park and I had said to the Longhair that I thought that it would be a marvellous thing if the SAPS Horse Unit moved their stabling to within the park as it would introduce an element of security and also was central to St. Georges Park, the Beaches and even Victoria Park. Of course it would be great if that facility could also be extended to horse trails through the park. If they do it in Central Park, New York surely we could do it here?
On arrival at our car we met with old mate Dorien Du Toit of Fire Klub fame (1st Saturday of every month at Toni’s Place) who must have disturbed the window breaking miscreant’s. He had very kindly phoned 1011 and was standing by waiting for their imminent arrival. First to arrive was the Richmond Hill I-Patrol vehicle driven by Alan Mounter. Whilst we waited and discussed the universe and the bad karma released by my window breaking miscreant I caught snatches of discussion about the incident on the two way radio. It appears that some confusion was occuring:
- An argument was going on about which station area the incident fell into
- Some vehicles got the message that the vehicle that had been broken into was a ‘suspicious vehicle’
- Other vehicles were overshooting the Chelmsford Avenue turnoff on an increasingly regular basis.
Eventually it was all sorted out and all of a sudden we had FOUR SAPS vehicles attending to the complaint.
I confess that even after dealing with such situations on an almost daily basis for many years I still have this ‘movie cop’ idea in my head where dog handlers, vicious dogs, fit handsome policemen, helicopters and beaters pour out of vehicles determined to get their man. One day it will happen – I have faith.
Our situation was a little bit more farcical though as SAPS argued over whose jurisdiction the incident fell under and just who I should report the incident to. Adding to the confusion was a local resident who, stirred up by the ‘action’ on his doorstep, popped down to inform all who would listen that this was the third incident in less than two weeks – the previous two involved physical violence with one guy stabbed and another beaten about the head with a rock, hence my comment that we were ‘Third Time Lucky’.
Well it looks like that is the last time we will park there and walk through the park for the forseeable future.
I had a little walk through the bush next to the parking area to look for ‘clues’ and can report that our bush dwelling miscreant has a certain taste for Fanta Brown and indulges in a lot of Safe Sex judging by the number of condom packets littering the ground.
My thanks to Dorien Du Toit, Alan Mounter and the SAPS.
Alan Straton
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Pretty dumb to leave valuables in the vehicle & not at home even if the valuables were not visible. What about installing car guards at each of the car parks? Fred.
You are right – also pretty dumb of us to trust in the innate goodness supposedly present in everyone.
I am almost convinced that this is the precursor to people accepting and paying car guards – create the need and it will be filled!
The only valuables in the vehicle were the Longhair’s Credit Card (hidden under papers in the cubbyhole) and the radio.
Overkill & confusion as usual from the SAPS. Petty complaint in comparison to all other major crimes taking place. Fred.