Citizens asked to be eyes and ears of Saps

GEORGE NEWS - The newly elected chairman of the Camphersdrift Glen Barrie Heatherlands Neighbourhood Watch (CGH NW), Shawn Northey, is asking all law-abiding residents of George to be the eyes and ears of the police.

Northey and the other nine committee members were elected during the CGH NW annual general meeting at George Methodist Church in Plantation Road, Heatherlands, on Thursday 27 October.

Apart from electing the new committee, the aim of the meeting was to discuss challenges in the area and to celebrate wins and successes of the past year.

Northey asked Georgians to become involved with their respective neighbourhood watches. "We need to stop crime in its tracks. We tend to withdraw and build higher walls instead of going out in the streets, seeing who is frequenting our areas and getting to know our neighbours. At the end of the day your neighbour can be the quickest person to respond when you need help," Northey said.

He told George Herald that people think getting involved with a neighbourhood watch entails a lot of hard work.

"Residents imagine that they as members will have to patrol at 02:00 in the morning. Instead, it means you are the eyes and ears of the police.

"A patrol can be something as simple as a fifteen-minute drive around your area when you are going to the shops," he said.

To get involved with the CGH NW, send an email to info@cghnw.co.za.

The new ECG Neighbourhood Watch committee are, front from left: Marlene Mackenzie (patrols), Liana Pettifer (Glen Barrie), Desireè du Preez (secretary), Shawn Northey (chairman), Ben Schoeman (vice-chairman) and Troy Lewis (projects). Back: Braam du Preez (Glen Barrie), Michael Bailey (Camphersdrift), Rupert Pretorius (CPF chairman) and Juan Barnard (patrols).