CRIME expert Calvin Rafadi has warned about the latest ways in which thugs choose their victims.
According to Rafadi, a rubbish bin may tell tsotsis about the behaviour of the owner of the home they're targeting.
Usually during the festive season, many people travel and leave their homes unattended with bins in the yard.
Rafadi said tsotsis can tell when you are not around when they notice your bin has been in one place for too long.
“It's important to lock your bin with a chain because criminals can see when you have been away from your house for a couple of days,” he said.
Rafadi said when people buy their TVs, they should avoid putting the empty boxes in the bins outside the house as the criminals easily target them.
“Especially in kasis, people do that a lot and they easily become targets to thieves who can commit a housebreaking and steal the plasma TV,” he said.
“They can see the TV box even when the bin is closed because it’s big.”
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He also said a bin could also be a hiding spot for criminals.
“They can hide behind it without you being aware. That’s why it’s important to keep the bin in a garage, especially at night. We need to point out that we are not talking about any bin, I’m referring to the one with the wheels,” he said.
The forensic investigator said other crimes committed using the bin were usually where thieves climbed onto the roof of the house and stole solar panels. He said nyaope boys also stoles bins to transport things to sell to scrapyards.
On the other hand, Rafadi said motorists must avoid flicking their lights at other drivers when there were roadblocks.
“In Operation Shanela they are doing a good job but sometimes they don’t get enough criminals they should be arresting because motorists may have good intentions when flicking lights to other motorists, not knowing who they are. You might be helping someone with too many guns and going to commit crime,” he said.
“Criminals are always alert and observant, and when you flick that there is a roadblock, they would do a U-turn.”
