[imagesource:etsy]

Incidents of alleged “chain snatching” by children in Sea Point are causing alarm.

You might want to de-jewel if you’re walking around Sea Point and its surroundings for now.

The situation has prompted ward councillor Nicola Jowell to warn residents about this trending crime, while also trying to figure out how to get the increased number of kids off the street.

Jowell took to Facebook to confirm that she is in the process of engaging with provincial social services about the children in the area, as they need to be urgently taken off the streets and put in places of safety.

“The street children in the area have been a continue issue, with numbers increasing over the school holidays,” she said.

“Today Law Enforcement engaged with various informants in the area to identify the culprits who are alleged to have been involved in two chain snatching incidents. The group were located and taken to SAPS were two were identified. One has been linked to a current open case. The other is linked to an incident earlier today but no case has been opened.”

She’s urging anyone who was a victim of a chain snatching to please open a case at SAPS so the culprit can be linked to a case and the matter dealt with.

“Contrary to a lot of misinformation children can be arrested and detained by SAPS. There are specific additional requirements and rules they must follow under the Child Protection Act but arrests are possible.”

IOL notes that the provincial Department of Social Development (DSD) said it was aware of the complaints against minors in Sea Point, but could not confirm that the street children were directly related to the chain-snatching incidents.

“There has been an increase of aggressive begging in the area.

“The department is providing ongoing services to children on the street.

DSD said that the metro police have been assisting and that most of the children assessed are from Kraaifontein and Kalksteenfontein. The department said that depending on the outcomes of the assessments, children were offered therapeutic services.

“Once information is gathered from the children, social workers are able to conduct home assessments to implement appropriate interventions.

“If children younger than 18 are arrested, the Child Justice Act makes provision for the procedures to be followed by the SAPS, the NPA and Social Development,” said the department.

It is an absolute travesty to see these young people prowling the street, begging at car windows and potentially committing petty crimes. It saddens the heart to think about where their lives can go from here.

Hopefully, all parties involved can put them on the right track. In the meantime, keep your necklace safely stowed at home.

[source:iol]