Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CAPETOWN106
2009-05-12 14:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Cape Town
Cable title:  

SNAPSHOT OF CRIME IN CAPE TOWN

Tags:  ASEC 
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R 121453Z MAY 09
FM AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3072
INFO AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
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

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