By: Cassandra Zungu

That laptop, TV or cellphone you got on a special price may be full of blood. Buy legit goods.

These are some of the warnings Umbilo SAPS Cluster Commander Brigadier Sayer expressed at a launch for the awareness of buying stolen goods at Port Natal School in Umbilo on Tuesday.

“Shops around the Glenwood/Umbilo who sell 2nd hand goods should follow the law when buying the goods they sell,” he said.

Anthony Crankshaw for the Crime Scene Clean Up said the job they do is not an easy one but they are thankful for being a source of support at a time when people need it most.

“I can confirm that there is blood on a lot of stolen goods,” said Crankshaw.

At the forefront of the launch was Chairperson of the Glenwood/Umbilo Police Forum Ben Madokwe who urged residents to refrain from buying stolen goods.

“By buying stolen goods people are perpetuating crime levels and that is what we want to do away with,” he said.

The launch was made in partnership with ADT security, Blue security and the Glenwood/Umbilo Police Forum who committed themselves to the campaign.

ADT Community Development Manager Glen Smith said they are in full support of the initiative.

“84 alarms go of every day of the week in the area and we are thankful that we are going to be part of this initiative to educate the community,” he said.

Lt Col Manuel Correa, acting station commander for Umbilo SAPS said they will not hesitate to arrest buyers of stolen goods.

“No negotiations will be made because most goods are sold at half price. That’s enough to make anyone suspicious,” he said.

Lt. Correa added that the community should familiarize themselves with the Data Dot system which works with a Micro Dot that is invisible to the human eye and has its own serial number which allows tracking.

Glenmore Primary School principal David Spiteri committed himself to raising awareness of not buying stolen goods amongst children.

He presented his concept for a text and imagery poster competition which will have a prize R100 to R200 for primaries and high schools.

“Children need to learn about this too and I will converge with other principals in the area to join the initiative.

Other community and state enterprises such as the Bulwer Safety and Patrol Forum, the Department of Safety and Liaison were present to support the launch.

The Glenwood/Umbilo area’s crime levels have been soaring since the year started and the launch is one of the initiatives put in place to fight crime.

The campaign will be going around the community and in shopping malls for 3 months, educating people about the importance of not buying stolen goods.