SNAPSHOT OF CRIME IN CAPE TOWN

UNCLAS CAPE TOWN 000106 DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/OPO/FPD, DS/DSS/OSAC, AND DS/DSS/ITA PRETORIA FOR RSO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT OF CRIME IN CAPE TOWN ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: A recent spike in criminal activity around Cape Town has culminated in increased crime deterrence operations by the South African Police Service. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On April 29, 2009, a South African Police Service (SAPS) contact informed the RSO that several individuals had been apprehended as a result of a local crime prevention operation. The operation was developed in response to six recent house robbery cases in the neighborhoods surrounding the Consulate. Although one suspect was in possession of multiple high end electronic items, none of the individuals had yet been charged pending confirmation that the items were confirmed as stolen. ¶3. (U) On May 7, 2009, SAPS conducted a joint sector policing operation which resulted in the arrest of 14 Namibian nationals. The individuals were accused of operating a robbery syndicate in the southern suburbs of Cape Town. During the final two weeks of April, a number of homes in gated communities were targets of home invasions. The communities are located in the Constantia, Hout Bay, Kirstenhof, and Tokai suburbs of Cape Town. A SAPS contact reported to the RSO that a number of the individuals arrested during the operation had prior military training, and were accomplished in conducting surveillance activities. The majority of men were arrested in the Mandela Park township community in Hout Bay, and the operation netted over 2,000,000 ZAR (approximately $241,000 U.S.) worth of stolen property. ¶4. (U) On May 10, 2009, SAPS officers arrested two men after a botched robbery at a shopping center restaurant. At approximately 2145 hours, several men walked into a restaurant in the Canal Walk shopping centre and demanded cash from the staff. One of the accused fired a single shot from a handgun, wounding a restaurant employee in the neck. The men ran from the scene and were quickly arrested by police. However, according to police sources the gun has not been recovered and it is believed that a third suspect is still at large. Canal Walk is a high end shopping center located in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. This shopping center is frequented by Consulate staff and visiting U.S. tourists. Delta Airlines also make use of a hotel near Canal Walk for their New York - Cape Town flight crew layovers. ¶5. (U) In March of 2009, Steenberg Estate, one of the gated communities adjacent to the Consulate, initiated a multi-million Rand upgrade of their security portfolio. This massive upgrade was in response to 11 reported incidents of house robbery in January ¶2009. One month after implementing their new security format, the community suffered several additional home invasions now attributed to the Namibian nationals arrested on May 7th. 6.(U) Silvertree Estates, another gated community adjacent to the Consulate, made several improvements to their access control procedures after suffering nine house robberies in January and February of 2009. A residential gated community in Hout Bay has recently conducted a review of their security procedures after a recent home invasion, also attributed to the individuals arrested on May 7th. The Consulate currently leases eight residential homes between these three gated communities. The RSO has met with the security managers for each estate and reviewed each robbery incident. ¶7. (U) While SAPS is making an effort to be more assertive in addressing crime in Cape Town, these incidents highlight the aggressive and increasingly sophisticated nature of the criminal elements that target the community around the Consulate. In the majority of residential burglary cases, the houses that were Qmajority of residential burglary cases, the houses that were targeted did not have security features on par with Consulate homes. However, it is important to note that these same gated communities have strict guidelines regarding the installation of security grills or other physical barriers on residential doors and windows. Visible security features are generally not approved by the homeowner associations as they are deemed to be detrimental to the image of the community and would detract from the aesthetic that the community is safe. ¶8. (U) Point of contact for this cable is RSO Thomas Murray, office telephone: 027-021-702-7438. MAYBERRY