RAG Bedfordview

12/06/2026

A reminder from RAG to stay security conscious and safe if you're making this a long weekend and over the upcoming public holiday. Criminals like the holidays, too! They like unattended homes, distracted crowds and the surge of cash in circulation as people are out and about, having fun and spending more. Crime rates can spike noticeably as opportunistic criminals exploit relaxed routines and vulnerable targets.
Follow these RAG security tips to stay safe:
✅Report any suspicious people, vehicles or activities immediately. If something worries you or you feel unsafe, call it in!
✅Always be vigilant - to protect yourself at home and on the roads. Be alert when driving home from shopping centres or outings, especially when entering your property. Make sure you are not being followed.
✅Invest in the best security measures for your home and use them! One of the most important security measures is an alarm linked to a reputable alarm monitoring and armed response service provider, like RAG.
✅Make sure that your gate cannot be lifted off the rails. Consider investing in a device to alert your security to gate tampering or lifting, like the RAG Gate Guardian.
✅Activate your beams early each evening – whether you are indoors or entertaining on your patio. Guests are no deterrent to criminals, and parties where gates are being opened and closed, people are coming and going, and security is lax, can attract opportunistic criminals.
✅Set your alarms at night and every time you leave the house.
☎️Always call in suspicious activity. Call RAG’s 24-hour control centre on 082 322 3333 or 011 455 7022.

12/06/2026

EXPRESS KIDNAPPINGS ARE INCREASING: RESIDENTS MUST BE AWARE AND VIGILANT

Amid growing concerns over the rise of so-called "express kidnappings" across South Africa, particularly in Gauteng, Residents Action Group (RAG Security) urges residents to be aware of this crime trend and to be extra vigilant.

To raise awareness and gain insights on the growing threat of express kidnapping, RAG reached out to a local victim. This is her story of an ordinary evening that turned into a nightmare:

“I had been at Rosebank Mall, visiting the iStore. I was driving home towards Modderfontein and it was about 7pm when I stopped at a traffic light near the Marlboro off-ramp from the M1. There was another vehicle in front of me. Nothing seemed out of place, and I am always alert and vigilant - especially because my job requires me to travel, including at night.”

As she stopped, without warning, four men suddenly appeared around her vehicle. "I think they must have snuck up behind me. They just popped up." Two men were on the passenger side, one in front of the vehicle, and another standing on the driver's side. All were armed, with guns pointed at her. They all banged on the car and demanded that she unlock.

Guns pointed at me

“I thought it was a hijacking. I had never heard of an express kidnapping. With the guns pointed at me, I didn’t want to risk my life and thought I could run away from the car and just let them take it."

But when she did this, one of the attackers grabbed her and threw her back into the vehicle. The criminals then drove her into Alexandra. Inside the car, the kidnappers forced her to unlock her phone and laptop. The men searched through her accounts and became angry when they discovered only a small amount of accessible money. "They shouted at me about how little money was in the account they found."

At one stage, they stopped at an ATM on 14th Street in Alexandra and attempted to withdraw cash. Fortunately, they entered incorrect account information and failed to access the funds. Throughout the ordeal, the attackers repeatedly threatened to kill her if she did not cooperate.

While most reports point to express kidnappings being part of the rising threat of organised crime, perpetrated by sophisticated, efficient criminals, this victim noted that her kidnappers looked young and were nervous. "The driver didn’t lift the handbrake and had to ask me what to do. They looked like they were in their late teens or early twenties." They did, however, appear to have assigned roles and had planned the operation.

The questions and answers that may have helped her

As they drove around Alexandra, the kidnappers interrogated her about vehicle tracking systems. Did the car have a tracker? Could her phone be tracked? Was anybody expecting her home? The victim answered yes. She told them her vehicle was tracked, her phone could be tracked and that both her husband and mother were expecting her home an hour ago.

These answers may have influenced what happened next. About an hour after the kidnapping ordeal began, the criminals left her and her car in Alexandra and fled.

Meanwhile, her mother had already started receiving notifications from tracking services and realised something was wrong. She alerted police in Alexandra and contacted the vehicle tracking company.

The aftermath

The criminals took her cell phone, laptop, a new iPad and some photography equipment. The insurance payout was just a fraction of the full value of what was taken. Tracking technology later helped trace the stolen laptop to a shebeen in Alexandra but then it was switched off. A few days later, it was switched on again - in Mozambique.

But the emotional impact proved far greater than the financial loss. The victim got rid of her relatively new car, taking a financial knock. "I couldn't sit in it. I didn't want to drive it anymore.

“I am finding myself sitting with a lot of built-up anger regarding the whole situation.”

She says that the most terrifying part of the ordeal was when she was forced back into her car and was certain she would r***d or killed.

No warning signs

A disturbing aspect of this story is that the victim cannot identify any obvious warning signs. She does not believe she was followed from the mall. She does not believe she was specifically targeted because of her shopping trip. Instead, she believes she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. "I was vigilant. They just appeared."

Advice to others

Reflecting on her traumatic experience, she offers a few pieces of advice:

“Understand that not every attack when you are on the road is a hijacking. Express kidnappings are a growing threat, with criminals wanting you and your devices so that they can access banking apps, bank accounts and personal information.

“Avoid stopping at isolated red traffic lights at night.

“Use family location-sharing applications such as Life360 so loved ones can quickly identify when something is wrong.

“Ensure that your vehicle and device tracking services are active and functioning.

“Consider carefully what sensitive information is accessible on your phone.

“Let family members know your expected arrival times and routes.

“If confronted by armed criminals, prioritise your life over property.”

A woman travelling alone may be at greater risk, but she believes that in this instance, the four armed criminals could have overpowered two people.

RAG chairperson Anjela da Silva stresses that everyone should be aware of the danger of express kidnapping. “Kidnapping is no longer a crime that targets only wealthy individuals or businesspeople. Victims are often ordinary residents going about their daily routines – driving to or from work, shopping, visiting friends, exercising or simply walking in their neighbourhood. Our message is not to create fear but to encourage greater awareness, which is one of the strongest forms of crime prevention.”

She thanked this incredibly brave victim for sharing her story to help protect others. "Being aware of and understanding how an express kidnapping might unfold can help people prepare, recognise risks and take practical steps that may improve their safety."

A reminder to always report suspicious activity, people or vehicles in our RAG area. ☎️Call it in to the RAG 24-hour Control Centre: 082 322 3333

09/06/2026

🌟Smash and Grab Tips🌟
A RAG reminder that it's not just slippery roads that you need to worry about when driving home today. We urge our community to follow these tips to avoid a smash and grab crime, especially where wet roads have caused congestion and traffic is at a stand-still:
✅Always lock all your car doors and keep the windows closed.
❌Do not have handbags, cell phones, briefcases or other valuables visible inside your vehicle.
✅Be alert and aware of your surroundings when approaching an intersection or stopping your vehicle.
✅Leave a gap between you and the car in front of you to give yourself room to drive away if you need to.
❌Never open vehicle windows or doors for strangers, including street vendors or people handing out flyers.
✅Always look out for suspicious people or activities.
✅Be wary of people standing at intersections. They may be innocent, but criminals will often stand with others while waiting for an opportunity to strike.
❌If you encounter obstacles such as rocks or tyres, never get out of your vehicle to remove them. Reverse immediately and drive away in the opposite direction.
✅When approaching an intersection at night, always slow down well in advance so that the traffic light changes to green by the time you reach the intersection.
✅Be wary whenever you see broken glass lying on the road as it may mean that a smash and grab happened recently.
🌐You will find more Residents Action Group (RAG) security tips here: https://bedfordviewrag.co.za/security-tips/

08/06/2026

☎️CALL IT IN! RAG CARES

TIPS TO SPOT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

Here is the second of five top tips to spot suspicious activity.

2. STRANGERS PEERING INTO CARS OR WINDOWS
This is an obvious sign of suspicious behaviour. If there is a chance to take a photo of the individual from a safe distance, do so and share it directly with RAG. It can help to identify the suspect. Never put photos of suspects onto social media as this can compromise the investigation and case. If you cannot safely take a photo, take note of and report a basic description. How many suspicious people did you notice? What do they look like – for example, are they male or female, tall or short, slim or overweight? What is their skin colour? What type of clothing are they wearing and what colour?

Always call in suspicious activity! RAG cares. Report it to our 24-hour RAG control centre immediately by calling 082 322 3333 or 011 455 7022.

Stay tuned for more RAG tips on spotting suspicious activity

04/06/2026

☎️CALL IT IN! RAG CARES

TIPS TO SPOT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
What is suspicious activity, and when should you call RAG? There are no definitive guidelines, but if something looks out of the ordinary in our neighbourhood and if it concerns you, call it in. However, there are a few tips that you can use, and we will share them here, starting today, with our first of five top tips to spot suspicious activity.
1. STRANGERS LOITERING
If a stranger is on your neighbour’s property, without any signs of the homeowner, that is suspicious behaviour. A person standing outside a home - on the pavement or near the driveway - for extended periods, looking around aimlessly or looking at their cell phone, could be a criminal, an accomplice or a look out. Research shows that criminals will often watch a home for as long as two weeks before striking, to understand the residents’ habits and movements.
Always call in suspicious activity! RAG cares. Report it to our 24-hour RAG control centre immediately by calling 082 322 3333 or 011 455 7022.
Stay tuned for more tips on spotting suspicious activity.
Let's work together to keep our streets safe!

29/05/2026

Happy Friday to our RAG community. Enjoy the weekend. But remember to stay security conscious and alert, whether you are relaxing at home or are out and about.

✅Activate your beams early each evening – whether you are indoors or on your patio.
✅Set your alarm at night and every time you leave the house.
✅Be vigilant when driving home from restaurants or outings, especially when entering your property. Make sure you are not being followed.
❌Do not wear expensive jewellery and watches in public places. Criminals have “spotters” who look for luxury brands like Rolex watches in particular.
✅Always call in suspicious activity.
Make sure that you always use THIS number to reach our 24-hour RAG Control Centre! Save it in your contacts. Make it a favourite. RAG is always there for you.
☎️082 322 3333

20/05/2026

📰Read the latest issue of our RAG Cares newsletter now! It should have landed in all our RAG members' email inboxes, but here's a link, in case you have missed it:

I am pleased to report that RAG has noted a decline in criminal activity in recent weeks. While this is positive news and a testament to the collective efforts of residents and our security teams, it is important to stay vigilant and never become complacent.

18/05/2026

💡Monday Did You Know

📣Did you know that Residents Action Group (RAG Security) can monitor your cameras for enhanced security? We monitor a wide range of cameras. To find out more, 📧email [email protected]

15/05/2026

‼️A Friday reminder to our community that criminals work weekends! So don't be complacent about your security this weekend.
✅Activate your beams early each evening – whether you are indoors or on your patio.
✅Set your alarm at night and every time you leave the house.
✅Be vigilant when driving home from restaurants or outings, especially when entering your property. Make sure you are not being followed.
❌Do not wear expensive jewellery and watches in public places. Criminals have “spotters” who look for luxury brands like Rolex watches in particular.
✅Always call in suspicious activity.
Make sure that you always use THIS number to reach our 24-hour RAG Control Centre! Save it in your contacts. Make it a favourite.
☎️082 322 3333 See less

13/05/2026

Always report suspicious activity in our RAG area! You don't need to be sure it's a crime. If something looks and feels out of place and concerns you, it's worth calling it in. Let Residents Action Group (RAG Security) investigate. ☎️Call our 24-hour Control Centre on 082 322 3333