A Daylighter is someone who is happy to concentrate on being vigilant in his or her neighbourhood during daylight hours. In certain suburbs, these community-minded individuals may be part of a formal roster system and in others they approach the task in more informal ways.
Anyone can be a Daylighter: retired residents, mothers with school children, people who work from home, people walking their dogs, and so on. They are often referred to as the “eyes & ears brigade”. All it requires is to keep a sharp eye out and report anything or anyone suspicious to Watchcon, Hout Bay’s central security communication facility, who will take it from there.
Being part of the Daylighters makes you much more observant. It’s amazing what you notice: gates and doors left open, post boxes overflowing, wheelie bins left on the road for days, outside lights burning. All are invitations to opportunists and criminals. Being observant about these often tell-tale signs becomes second nature – and can prevent an ugly incident.
What is expected from a Daylighter?
A willingness to give a couple of hours of your time, on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
Patrol your area in a vehicle – preferably one person driving and one operating the hand-held radio – in an “eyes and ears” capacity. No heroics required. You report in to Watchcon, and they will do the rest.
Alternatively, choose to patrol by other means, i.e. while walking your dog, shopping in the village, cycling or walking for exercise and even being vigilant from an elevated static vantage point at your home or that of a friend or neighbour. Communicate by phone with Watchcon on 021-790-9333, or use your two-way radio if you have one.
Report suspicious or undesirable behaviour in your neighbourhood, as well as any lapses in safety and security.
Inspire others in your sector to join you as a Daylighter.
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