We created Crime Aware to help South Africans to get a grip on the crime around them. To help everyone avoid crime by being more aware of what is actually happening around them.
Years ago, before high walls and security gates, we all used to talk to our neighbours and share all kinds of information. But nowadays we probably wouldn't be aware if a neighbour was even hijacked or robbed in their home unless we read it in the news. Crime Aware hopes to change this.
Inspired by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who instated a computer based crime mapping system called CompStat in the 1990's. Every crime that occurred in the city was reported on the system no matter how minor. The NYPD could then begin to see crimes patterns and begin to predict where criminals could strike next, allowing them to be prepared and counteract the crime effectively. The result was that over time crime in New York was cleaned up.
The broken windows theory states - "If a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge."
Mayor Giuliani adopted the Broken Windows Theory and implemented a community-policing strategy focused on order maintenance… graffiti washed nightly from subway cars, subway turnstile-jumpers arrested, trash picked up. Minor, seemingly insignificant quality-of-life crimes were found to be the tipping point for violent crime. When New York "windows" were repaired, crime dropped.
In South Africa we often do not report minor crimes as they seem so trivial in the light of the serious crimes. But criminals graduate from minor crimes to major crimes, a thief becomes a murderer and not the other way around.
If we all take the time to report the crime incidents that happen to us or around us, inform our neighbours and get involved with your local community policing forums, we can get an idea of the type of crime activity happening in our area. If someone tried to steal your car, or even vandalised your garden gnome, - report it as it may also happen to your neighbour - and the more we all know - the better prepared we can be to combat crime and prevent incidents happening to us, our families and friends.
We invite you to sign up and report ANY incident that happened to you or that you witnessed, recent or in the past. The more information we share - the better for all.
Sign up today - start something and report even just ONE crime incident.
Visit the website now at: www.crimeaware.co.za
