The Hidden Dangers: Why Getting Crime Information to the Right People Is a Battle We’re Losing
Independent Security Risk Assessment – In South Africa, where crime affects nearly everyone, one of the most critical challenges in security is often overlooked: getting the right information to the right people.
A few years ago, I was speaking with an informant who told me something I’ve never forgotten. He said that even when he had crucial information about a crime, he didn’t know who to share it with. He didn’t trust the police, and he definitely didn’t trust security guards. Therefore, he kept the information to himself. Think about that. Someone has knowledge that could prevent a crime but doesn’t feel safe reporting it. That’s a major risk with serious consequences.
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Let me walk you through a few real-world examples that reveal just how dangerous this information gap can be.
The “Shouting into a Void” Problem
I wanted to see if there was any way to bridge this gap, so I started looking for a reliable contact point that someone could use to report crime. I focused on areas surrounding universities, places known for incidents like kidnappings, hijackings, and even planned hits. What I found was deeply concerning. The law says if you know about a crime, you must report it. But where do you report it? Who do you trust? In most cases, trying to report something feels like shouting into a void. When you contact a company, you usually get a generic email address like info@company.com, and you already know what happens. Nothing. Your message is ignored or automatically sent to a spam folder.
I’ve written letters and handed them over to guards at buildings. No one ever followed up. When we finally reached the people responsible, they admitted they had never seen the letter. It’s a broken system that actively discourages people from speaking up. And that’s exactly why informers stay quiet.
Hotlines: The Missing Link
This is where hotlines should come in, but not just any hotline. It needs to be managed by an independent party trained to listen, take action, and relay information without bias. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. Many companies don’t have a hotline at all, or the one they do have is ineffective. So, people say nothing.
Here are two quick examples that show how challenging it can be to reach the right people, even when time is critical.
Example 1: The Delivery Truck Mystery in Johannesburg
In Johannesburg, I saw a delivery truck pulled over, with the driver offloading boxes into a small car. Maybe it was routine. Maybe it wasn’t. I tried to alert someone at the company, specifically the fleet manager. No luck. When I eventually reached someone, they had no idea what I was talking about and didn’t seem to care.
All I wanted was to pass on a simple observation, but I couldn’t get through to the right people.
Example 2: The Basement Situation in Cape Town
In Cape Town, I urgently needed to report suspicious activity in a building basement. I tried everything, got names, and sent emails, but nothing worked. A year later, when I finally reached the correct person, I found out their system blocked external emails unless the sender was on a pre-approved list. The guard at the entrance had taken my contact details and promised a callback. No one ever called. No one listened.
The Cold, Hard Truth: We’re Doing It Wrong
Some might dismiss these stories, but when you consider the rising statistics of kidnappings, hijackings, truck thefts, and assassinations in South Africa, the reality becomes clear. This is not a minor issue. It is a serious flaw in how we approach security.
If your estate, business, or institution doesn’t have a proper system to handle real-time crime tips, you’re missing a critical component. Today’s threats, like violent hijackings and kidnappings, require a response system that goes far beyond outdated protocols.
The Need for an Informer’s Network
We have a major gap in how crime-related information is handled. Estates, businesses, schools, and office parks need a reliable informant network or hotline. Such an initiative is the only way to ensure tips and critical details reach the right people quickly and with the urgency they deserve.
It’s not just about cameras and guards. Real security begins when people feel safe enough to speak and when someone on the other end is listening and ready to act. Until we fix that, we’re only scratching the surface.
Article written by Andre Mundell.
Disclaimer: images are generated by ChatGPT.
Alwinco conducts Security Risk Assessments all over South Africa. We have a very strong footprint in Gauteng (Pretoria, Johannesburg, Midrand, Sandton, and Centurion). Bloemfontein, Durban, and Cape Town