Property owners and residents of Constantia in Cape Town can rest assured that K9 Seef, a specialist Belgian Malinois patrol dog, is hard at work to keep the neighbourhood safe, according to chairman of Constantia Watch Trevor Vroom.
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‘Even copper thieves are no match for K9 Seeff’, says Vroom. Recently, while patrolling the M3, a Constantia Watch SRT member spotted two well-known persons of interest in the area walking with what appeared to be a bag of copper. Spotting the patrol, they quickly disappeared into the bushes.
After an exhaustive search with no success by several responders, a Fidelity ADT officer spotted a discarded white T-shirt under the Doordrift bridge which they believed was worn by one of the men.
This was when it was time for K9 Seeff, whose tasks include trailing of suspects, visibility and crime prevention, to shine.
His specialist Constantia Watch handler, Dwayne de Vos, then took K9 Seeff to pick up the scent from the shirt. After some up and down and doubling back, canine hero Seeff led de Vos to a Doordrift Road bush where a suspect was hiding.
The suspect quickly complied, spilling the beans on where they got the copper and where his accomplice was headed. The suspect was then handed over to SAPS.
Vroom says Constantia Watch has two highly trained Belgian Malinois dogs, named KC and Seeff. These dogs are specifically chosen for their suitability for SRT operations as they are bred for military and policing duties and boast a lengthy lifespan.
These specialist patrol dogs undergo rigorous training six days a week and excel in tracking, obedience and combat skills. Last month, K9 Seeff, at just 21 months old, successfully tracked and aided in the arrest of a wanted suspect, showcasing remarkable potential.
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James Lewis, Licensee for Seeff Southern Suburbs and Constantia says that they are extremely proud to be the sponsors of K9 Seeff in terms of food to keep him in peak condition, as well as his ongoing training and support.
Community-founded in 2007, Constantia Watch safeguards residents and property values through proactive crime monitoring. It operates solely on voluntary contributions from residents and local businesses. It is one of the most advanced in the country with a 24/7 control room, known as Constantia Valley Information Centre (CVIC) located in Constantia.
Constantia Watch is registered with the Wynberg Community Police Forum and Department of Community Safety (DOCS), holds public benefit organisation (PBO) status, section 18(a) tax status and undergoes annual financial audits. Operations are overseen by a team of consultants who report to a managing committee consisting of local residents.
A Special Response Team (SRT) was introduced in 2010 when it became evident that opportunistic criminals were infiltrating from the mountainous and green belt areas in Constantia.
The team includes six well-trained tactical officers equipped with cutting-edge technology who patrol in pairs of two in distinct black bakkies with yellow markings.
In 2011, Constantia Watch implemented License Plate Recognition technology (LPR) and strategically placed cameras across the neighbourhood, green belts and other locations.
The K9 unit was established in 2019.
Lewis says that aside from the peace of mind that local residents enjoy due to the presence of Constantia Watch, it is vital to property values and demand for property in the area. Security has become one of the most important features that many buyers will look at when deciding whether they want to invest in a neighbourhood and the prices that they are willing to pay.
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Picture: Supplied