The alleged kingpin of the housejacking in Obs Ave
Crime over the festive season
Observatory was quiet over the festive season with only some minor incidents, says Patrick Murphy, Chair of the Observatory Crime Sector Forum.
A housejacking in Observatory Avenue was foiled on Monday, when 072-no-crime responded to a tip-off of nearly 20 people moving into a vacant house, after the locks were broken. The Yeoville Police were called for back-up and the housejackers were removed. "It is good to know that our local security company has the Yeoville Police firmly behind them. Even the Station Commisioner, Sen. Sup, Lobisi Motaung arrived on scene," said Murphy.
The suspected houserobber
A suspect linked to house robbery in St Georges nearly 3 months ago was arrested over the weekend. The victim, who was tied up during the robbery, spotted one of the three suspects outside her house and pointed him out to 072-No-Crime. They gave chase and arrested the suspect near The Curve. The victim's vehicle and goods have not yet been recovered.
The wounded suspect arrested for housebreaking
072-No-Crime also shot and wounded a suspected robber in Fairwood, down Sylvia’s pass, last week. Two men were seen emerging from a house by 072-No-Crime guards. The reaction vehicle responded and the armed guards gave chase over several rooftops. One suspect was wounded in the leg and handed over to the police. The other suspect is still at large.
Observatory Estatehas been particularly quiet with only some minor incidents reported, according to Murphy.
On one night last week radio’s were stolen out of cars parked in driveways in Eckstein, Klip and Elsa Street. "A Klip Street resident chased a man about 5am that morning away from his car, but unfortunately didn't phone 072-No-Crime for help."
A generator and car radio also went missing from East Street two weeks ago.
Murphy again urged all residents in Observatory to report suspicious people and happenings by phoning 072-NO-CRIME (072-66-27463)
Posted 15 January 2008 by
Your latest news
If you are financially supporting Observatory Estate and 072-NO-CRIME you should have a shiny new board at your gate telling the world you are doing the right thing by paying your monthly R280. If you haven't got a board, contact Carine Hartman on 082 515 8499 or Ingrid Levin at 011 622-7532 after 17:00 or 082-962-4407 and we'll pop around to help you sign on the dotted line.
Cement down your brass letter boxes and garden chairs: we've had a spate of scrap metal thieves doing the rounds. At least 12 letter boxes disappeared and the past weekend Michael Burke lost all 12 his aluminium garden chairs. 072-NO-CRIME do have descriptions of the thieves and if you suspect anything, please phone them immediately. Murphy yesterday caught a man walking with three garden chairs in Eckstein Street and called the Yeoville Police in - but for some unknown reason they let him go...
You must have noticed the Observatory Golf Course is moving a mountain. According to the management they are filling in an enormous area where dead trees were removed. About 50 truck loads of soil get dumped there every day - but they promise the mess will be over in two weeks and the area vastly improved. Be patient. They have been asked to also lock the gate in Da Gama Street at night as it is becoming a security risk.
Posted by
on 25 September 2007 072-NO-CRIME works for you!
It has paid off: Your new security company 072-NO-CRIME has made your enclosure safer in just a month. Should you see anything suspicious in your area DON'T run to the guards at the boom but DO phone 072-NO-CRIME (072-66-27463) immediately. The unmarked car will respond within seconds. By phoning 072-NO-CRIME a young resident in Da Gama Street yesterday helped Patrick Murphy and his team clean up Observatory Estate even more:
The 072-NO-CRIME team yesterday caught two suspects red-handed when they stole a swimming pool motor in Da Gama Street. The two, also suspected of being involved in stealing at least 4 gate motors in the enclosure, were arrested and handed over to the Yeoville Police.
The gate motors that were stolen over the past three weeks were all a specific brand: Centurion. Patrick identified 14 households with Centurion motors that weren't protected by an anti-theft brackets. He could contact 10 of the 14 households to warn them to install brackets. Be warned: if you have an unprotected Centurion gate motor, please have an anti-theft bracket fitted.
The drug dealers in Mons Road are no more. Patrick Murphy and his team have "cleaned up" the street by targeting and chasing suspicious vehicles out of the enclosure.
A word of warning from Patrick: a woman in Mons Road was robbed in her driveway last week at gunpoint. He suspects that she was followed home from Park Meadows where she withdrew a large amount of money. "If you think you are being followed, don't enter your property. Note the make of the car and, if possible, the registration number and phone 072-NO-CRIME immediately. Drive around in the area until it is safe to go home."
And another warning: instruct your helpers to NEVER open the gate for ANYONE unless authorised by you. A house in Klip Street was robbed in broad daylight by three men who told the helper they must "fix the electric fence". "Rather be safe than sorry," Patrick says. "Instruct your staff to phone you immediately, should strangers knock on the door trying to enter your property."
Should you see any suspicious vehicles or people in the area, please dial 072-NO-CRIME immediately. Put the number 072-66-27463 on speed dial and USE it. The 072-NO-CRIME team works closely with the Yeoville Police - and look on the black boards at the 4 boomed entrances for the latest news.
Outlawz has served the enclosure well the past five years, but we believe we found an excellent alternative with added value. KPS is offering us not only the usual guards at the booms and dedicated patrol car for the enclosure, but also:
A dedicated alarm service: For the first time you can link up your alarm directly to the dedicated vehicle in the area and have…
Immediate armed response: Should your alarm sound, the patrol car in the area will pick up the signal within seconds and respond immediately. No more waiting for Chubb/ADT/whoever for those vital minutes. Your help is just around the corner INSIDE your enclosure.
A dedicated hotline: Patrick has registered a crime-line for you to dial when in need. 072-NO-CRIME (072-66-27463) is the number linked to the armed response vehicle. No more cell numbers that will change. Enter 072-NO-CRIME in your speed dial and know immediate help is on hand. And use this number to report even the smallest incident. All information is vital in our fight against crime.
Beams safeguarding the pedestrian entrances: Mons Road, Steyn Street and Judith Street have been the access points for criminals in the past. No more: Patrick will install beams across those pedestrian entrances that will be activated from 11pm every night. Should a pedestrian enter after hours, the specific beam’s alarm will sound in the response vehicle, which will investigate without delay.
Panic buttons for scholars: The mugging of school children in the vicinity of Mons/Innes and Judith/Steyn/Eckstein is well-known. Patrick came up with a solution: panic buttons linked to the pedestrian beams. Just supply your children with a panic button and should they be in trouble within 50 metres of those hot spots, they just have to push the panic. An alarm, clearly stating exactly where your child pushed the panic, will sound in the dedicated vehicle, which will respond immediately.
You have a familiar face protecting you again: Those of you who have lived in the enclosure for a while will know Theo Ferreira; big, blonde Theo who took a couple of bullets for us when we first closed off the area. Patrick is bringing our gentle giant back to protect us yet again… Theo, as one of the armed guards in the dedicated patrol car, will be closely involved in the running of our enclosure’s security.
YOU gave us the mandate:
The decision to change to Patrick’s KPS was not taken lightly. The committee has been deliberating for months on a possible change. At the annual general meeting last year we received a vote from those present to seriously look at KPS as an alternative – and then we asked you how YOU felt about a possible change… We approached 150 residents in December and January through e-mail, fax and walking the streets and had 107 responses. Only 8 were happy with the present status quo. The rest gave us a definite mandate for change.
Now for the million dollar question:
What will this cost you? Not a cent more than the R280 you are currently coughing up monthly for your peace of mind.
The panic buttons for your children will cost contributors exactly that: the once-off cost of a panic button. No monthly fee; no call-out fee, nothing.
And to have your alarm linked? R495 per month will include the committee’s fee for guards, car, beams AND your alarm linked to Patrick’s armed response.
Calling all non-payers: But here is a serious appeal to those of you NOT contributing a cent or two:
You will, with this improved security service, probably realise an even higher price for your “secure home in boomed area”. We need you to come to the party NOW. Only 66% of the residents are contributing financially.
Patrick’s services are R6 000 more than we are paying Outlawz at the moment – which means we need at least another TWENTY new contributors to carry the additional cost.
Yes, we can have fundraisers to build up a kitty for this excellent service. And yes, we can increase the contributors’ payment later this year. But why? We are ALL benefiting from a better security service and can surely ALL pay towards it?
And if you are a conscientious objector to closing off public roads? Pay your R280 monthly over to the Observatory Ratepayers Association and SPECIFY how you want your money to be used: additional spotlights; fixing a pothole or two; feeding some kids in one of our many children’s homes; sponsor a child’s education through one of our many schools.
We will pound the streets approaching all non-contributors over the next month, but why not do the right thing: fill in the debit order. To download the debit order CLICK HERE. Please complete the debit order (NOTE: The amount should read R280 per month and NOT R240) and fax it to 648-0385. For further enquiries regarding the closure please contact Ingrid on 622-7532 after 17:00 or 082-962-4407 – and await your BIG thank you from us…
Meet your new security team: On Sunday 4 March 2007 Patrick and Theo will be in the park across 2 Da Gama Street to meet the residents and answer any questions. Join them from noon that day for a free boerewors roll – and test them on response times…
Rob Calmer opens the meeting at 19h40 and welcomes attendants.
2. Attendance, quorum, agenda
Present: Mannie Levin, Ingrid Levin, Ivor Kaplan, Mike Burke, Ane Niwinska, Michael Phiri, Carine Hartman, Rob Calmer, Ricardo Visini, Jean Visini, Jose Dias, Lance Bloch, Jatin Khanna, Peter Karunga, Julian Drew, Diana Delmont, Robert Delmont, Sid Levitan
Apologies: Lenny + Bernice Marks, Ivan May, Peter Birkett, V.J. Greeff, Esther Lock, Reedwaan Vally
There is a quorum to make decisions. The draft agenda is approved.
3. Notes/action list previous AGM (29 September 2005)
Notes were discussed in ORF committee of 29 November 2005. Hereby formally approved.
4. ORF committee report on October 2005 – October 2006
PowerPoint presentation of the situation per last AGM, the actions taken to address the financial challenges, the satisfaction of residents and performance of Outlawz. Results of pilot of monitoring Outlawz shared.
Finances are still just making it, performance Outlawz improved by pilot, there is too small a group with too little energy to run the ORF.
5. Financial report March 2005 – February 2006
Balance of about R 15,000. Outlawz paid in arrears (so actually a negative balance of R 30,000). Number of contributing residents dropped to 216 (66%). 109 residents are not contributing.
6. ORF Constitution
Constitution not necessary if we change the name and main business/object in the memorandum/articles of association.
The name of the association could be Observatory Residents’ Forum or Obser- vatory Estate Residents’ Forum. Not the same name as the bank account. Can we use “trading as” ?
7. Election committee members
Nominations New · Lance Bloch · Carine Hartman communication · Michael Phiri domestic services · Julian (+ Nomi) Drew writing · Mike Burke fighting/communications · Jose Dias diy / all-rounder · Ronald Sorban all-rounder / security management Re-elected · Ivor Kaplan · Sid Levitan · Ingrid Levin · Mannie Levin · Tony Zingarelli
All are elected. In principle committee members should be paid up members. If any of the elected committee members is not a paid up member, the ORF committee in its next meeting is to decide at its discretion for each of those who are not paid up members, if they can stay on as committee members.
Diana Delmont and Rob Calmer are not available as committee members, but will be available to help out on an ad hoc basis (like former committee members Klaas Meekel, John Beron and others).
8. Current affairs:
a. Status crime
Reported on in annual report presentation. Crime in Observatory Estate is under control.
b. Status application, Observatory Police Forum
Application is still pending. Enclosure is condoned for nearly 5 years now. Relationship with OSCF/SAPS is good, as is the relationship with ORA.
c. Gates and booms
Two booms are broken, both ran over by municipal vehicles. Claiming damage may trigger the condoning attitude of the Council.
Ronald and Mannie will fix it.
d. Security company – Outlawz (quote Kovert?)
Outlawz is performing now, but the feeling is that that’s because of the extra effort of the ORF in monitoring them. We should not be doing that.
Kovert has put a quote forward that is interesting, but costs R 6,000/month more than Outlawz.
Before we can start comparing the advantages and disadvantages of both companies we should be in a situation where we could afford Kovert if we would want to consider changing to Kovert.
The next two months are to be used to target the 109 non contributing residents and try to raise enough money to be in a position to make a choice. In the January 2007 committee meeting we can than – if we raise enough – compare the two companies.
Carine, Ane and Michael will coordinate the drive to target the non contributors. A decision to change security company has to be made by an Extra-ordinary General Meeting.
A suggestion is made to ask Kovert for a reduced introduction fee.
Rob will call Kovert to inform him about the process.
The notes of this meeting will be sent to all attendants with a copy of the Kovert quote.
e. Administration and finance
See under annual report.
f. Communication
Fine since the Observatory website.
9. Any other business
Peter and Ingrid will organise lunch and X-mas boxes for the guards. Peter/Ingrid Carine will put a call on the website for any donations/gifts to be brought to 2 Da Gama.
10. Closing
The next meeting is Tuesday 16 January 2007, 19h30 at 2 Da Gama (Mannie and Ingrid Levin).
The meeting is closed at 21h30.
After the meeting was closed Mannie and Ingrid Levin volunteered to take over monitoring Outlawz from Rob for a maximum of 2 weeks. The other (new) committee members will be asked to volunteer for one or two weeks each as well until the January 2007 committee meeting.
Posted 16 January by
A message from the ORF chairman, Rob Calmer:
Can we keep Observatory a safer suburb for all?
Observatory Estate is the enclosure between St. Georges Road, Innes, Eckstein, Frederick and Aida Streets. There are 3 permanently (24 hours/day) guarded entrances: one at Louise Street and one on each side of St. Georges Road (corner Innes Street on the West and corner Aida Street on the East side). The entrance at Kloof Street is a day-time entrance only (6h00 – 18h00).
Observatory estate is guarded by “Outlawz” Security: with guards manning the booms at the entrances and with a 24-hour armed patrol car in the enclosure.
Piet Seabi mans the boom at Innes Street.
The Observatory Residents’ Forum (ORF) is the association of residents in and around Observatory Estate who contribute to the maintenance of the enclosure, the expenses of the security company and the management of the operation. The ORF has its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 23 November 2006, at 19h30, at the Observatory Golf Club (corner Steyn and Regent East Streets).
Challenges for the Observatory Estate enclosure
The ORF did not have an easy year since our last AGM in September 2005. Our income was gradually dropping, while the expenses were gradually increasing, we had the security industry strike for 4 months and many residents know how to find the ORF with complaints about the enclosure, but not many help us to manage the enclosure, with time, money or effort.
An enthusiastic membership drive in October last year, instigated by ORA chair and Obs web”mistress” Carine Hartman helped to get us back in the black figures, even though there is still “only” 70% of the residents contributing, while over 90% of the residents has expressed to be in favour of the enclosure.
Outlawz managed to be present during the whole strike period, be it with “alternative” guards without uniforms and a “civilian” patrol car, but all the booms were guarded and the armed patrol car was always available.
And the ORF Committee has been proactive in finding ways to manage and monitor Outlawz in order to be able to handle complaints from residents adequately. This does not always lead to less complaints, where some residents complain that the guards are too lax and others complain when they need to stop for the boom. We are trying to find a balance that optimises our safety and security, within the limits of the enclosure policy of the City Council and without annoying any of the residents and visitors.
Invest in your neighbourhood: with money and time !
A handful of residents is keeping this operation afloat. While everyone in and around the enclosure is benefiting from it. The area is much safer than it was before the booms went up. Property values have increased substantially and will drop drastically if the enclosure is to end. We don’t want to ask our residents for another increase, as long as there is still 20% of our residents who are in favour of the enclosure, but do not contribute. So if you don’t contribute: Pay! Now! A debit order form is available on this website. Or call Ingrid Levin if you want to pay in another way: 622 75 32.
And we can’t do this alone. We need people to manage the operation: fixing broken booms, collecting cheques and other payments, welcoming new residents, monitoring the security company, etc, etc.
Giovanni Barecchia from 65 Klip recently donated the new traffic cones and stop signs at the entrances. They look wonderful. Thanks a lot, Giovanni. This is an example for the Observatory Estate residents to follow!
Come to the AGM on Thursday 23 November 2006, 19h30
Tomorrow, 23 November is our AGM. At 19h30 at the Observatory Golf Club (entrance Steyn Street, South of golf course). We’ll talk about what happened the past year and how and with whom we are going to do it the coming year. Please come and say your say. You have complaints? Tell it in our face. And be there to be part of the solution. You want to make sure the enclosure stays? Be there to volunteer to pick up one of the tasks for next year.
Because only together we can keep Observatory a safer suburb for all.
Posted 22 November 2006 by
Welcome to Observatory Estate, the enclosed area north of the golf course. Are you a new resident who just moved into Observatory Estate? Support our boomed off area by paying your monthly fee. It is easy to enrol, just scroll down and read the section written especially for you under "New Residents"
You have a dedicated 24-hour patrol car guarding your enclosure. Phone the armed guards when in need, even if it is just to escort you home at night at:
084-645-3292 and 084-645-3293
If you want to contact the security firm Outlawz's director, Ashy will gladly address your problems/queries. Phone him on 082 444 8734
To see how Observatory Estate got its name CLICK HERE
Booms to increase
A great big thanks to the Observatory residents. You have been patient while the security strike has continued. At the same time, thanks to Outlawz who have provided a temporary security staff (at the risk of their lives) for many weeks.
As we all know, security fees have gone up and we unfortunately have to increase the monthly contributions. Effective 1 July 2006 the contributions will increase by R40 for residents currently paying R240 and by R20 for those in flats who currently pay R55.
For those residents who pay any other amounts by special arrangement, these will be increased based on current contributions.
This amount which keeps our Road Closure in place is still the best insurance we can have. It has preserved the value of your property investment in the area.
As soon as the security strike is over, we will be introducing several improvements.
New Residents
We welcome new residents to the area and ask you please to join the road closure project. We need your support and value it greatly.
To download the debit order CLICK HERE. Please complete the debit order and fax it to 648-0385. For further enquiries regarding the closure please contact Ingrid on 622-7532 after 17:00 or 082-962-4407.
The Outlawz patrol car which patrols the enclosed area 24Hours a day is available to all contributing members at any time, to assist in any situation concerning your safety or escort you to your door day or night if required.
The Patrol car phone numbers are: 084-645-3292 and 084-645-3293
The ORF BANKING DETAILS are:
Account Name: Observatory Road Closure2 Standard Bank Eastgate Branch Number: 018505 Account Number: 420467947
Please use your street address as reference
Please contact Ingrid Levin (2 Da Gama – 622 7532 or
) for your contributions, comments, compliments or complaints.
