Red Alert Security News Today

Residents in the seaside village of Kidd’s Beach outside East London have been rattled by a sudden crime surge in which 11 homes have been broken into in a week-and-a-half — with three targeted on Tuesday night. An octogenarian who stays alone in a beach house in the area said he feared for his life after he was assaulted and partially blinded by pepper spray during a recent burglary.

An East London woman has told how an e-hailing taxi driver allegedly threatened and attempted to kidnap her during a trip after she asked him to stop at an ATM so she could withdraw cash to pay his fare. The driver has since been permanently banned by e-hailing service Bolt. Sandra Sholayan told the Dispatch that she had ordered the ride home at about 11.

Seventeen businesses have come together as sponsors for the “Support a Child” initiative for Helping Those in Need, an NPO that feeds thousands of children and houses 25 victims of neglect and abuse. The campaign was started by Pot O’Curry owner Tubs Lingham, who said he was overwhelmed by the positive response of the East London community.