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The Citizen
15-06-2025
- The Citizen
Bassonia armed robbers caught after high-speed chase through Joburg CBD
Two suspects were taken into custody yesterday after a high-speed chase through the Johannesburg CBD, following an armed robbery in Bassonia. According to a statement by Fox Security, the suspects approached a resident and robbed him at gunpoint in the Bassonia area. Details of the vehicle used in the crime were circulated to the Fox Tactical Unit, which immediately began tracking it. With the help of License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras, the vehicle was located in the Johannesburg CBD. Fox Security, along with Mondeor CPF Sector 1, responded and searched the area where it was last seen. Moments later, the suspects' vehicle was spotted again, leading to a high-speed pursuit through the city streets. The chase ended when the Fox Tactical Unit managed to intercept and stop the vehicle. Both suspects were arrested on the scene and are currently detained at Mondeor SAPS. The vehicle used in the robbery was impounded. Fox Security extended its thanks to JMPD for their quick assistance in the operation. ALSO READ: Fox Tactical arrests duo wanted for armed robbery and murder in Mondeor At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Parking in downtown Cincinnati can be a hassle. We aim to make it easy, accessible.
At 3CDC, our mission is simple but vital: to keep downtown Cincinnati clean, safe and welcoming so that local businesses can thrive, and residents and visitors alike can enjoy the urban core. We've invested over $2 billion in Cincinnati's center city in service of those goals, and a significant focus of our efforts involves parking. We manage nine garages and seven surface lots throughout downtown and Over-the-Rhine. Every day, thousands of people use these facilities to shop, dine, work and explore. Our goal is to make parking as convenient, secure and affordable as possible. That's why we've embraced modern tools like mobile payments and License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras. In addition to payment kiosks, our lots provide the option for customers to pay for parking via text-to-pay or mobile pay by scanning a QR code. These technologies enhance customer service, provide flexibility for patrons and support a safe environment. The mobile payment options also help avoid citations by allowing parkers to receive reminders and extend their stay right from their phone. As such, we wanted to provide clarity on a recent letter to the editor published in the Enquirer claiming our practices are deceptive ("Cincinnati's deceptive parking practices drive visitors away," May 27). We understand that parking can be frustrating − and that technology is not perfect (3CDC certainly has room for improvement, too, for that matter). But we aren't trying to deceive anyone, and we also believe it's important to set the record straight. Letter: Broken kiosk, faded signs and a $65 welcome to Over-the-Rhine In the case highlighted by the letter: The individual paid for two hours of parking. He stayed for two hours and 13 minutes. He was issued a citation. The individual also noted our parking kiosk didn't print a receipt when he paid, which would have been timestamped, showing when he paid for parking. Our lots do not require the display of a receipt on a dashboard, so when a customer pays, the time begins on his or her parking stay. This is automatically recorded, and the system then begins counting down the time. If the parker wanted to extend his time, he could have contacted 3CDC directly or gone back to the kiosk to pay for additional time; parkers regularly do both, and we are always willing to work with parkers who contact us for all manner of questions or concerns. Opinion: Opponents of the Hyde Park Square project need to be honest with themselves Additionally, to alleviate timing challenges, our signage clearly states that a parker has a 15-minute grace period upon entering the lot prior to incurring any charges. To mitigate issues where parkers might be running a few minutes late returning to their car, we also offered a 10-minute grace period at the end of a parker's time. As a result of the underlying facts in this particular instance, we have since extended that grace period to 15 minutes. In addition to providing multiple different payment options and grace periods, we do our best to provide ample signage that clearly defines the rules for parkers. The lot cited in the letter to the editor features seven different signs stating that pre-paid parking is monitored and enforced by cameras. We're not trying to "catch" anyone − we're trying to keep the system fair and accessible. We're focused on providing good customer service and a positive experience. And we're committed to improving. That includes better signage, clearer instructions, and a willingness to work with any customer who feels they were wrongly cited or paid an incorrect amount for their parking. We also intend to add on-site staff at the 1400 Vine Lot during peak times to provide an extra layer of customer service, as we do at all the garages we manage. In short, we believe parking should be easy, fair and safe. We're working every day to make it better − and to support the vibrancy of downtown by ensuring that access to it is as seamless as possible. It's an essential service that aids small businesses and helps keep our downtown welcoming for everyone. We are sorry that this parker had a negative experience, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome him back to OTR again soon, as it is a neighborhood full of history, unique experiences, and incredible local businesses. Stephen Leeper is president and CEO of Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC). This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Downtown Cincinnati parking is getting improvements you need | Opinion
The South African
29-05-2025
- The South African
RIP: Tragic end to search for missing Bellville woman as body found in guesthouse
What began as a frantic search for a missing Bellville woman has ended in heartbreak after the body of Chantal Pelser was discovered in a Cape Town guesthouse on Wednesday afternoon. She was 52. Pelser had been missing since Sunday, 25 May, after she was last seen driving her silver Hyundai i10 through the Bo-Kaap area around 13:00, reportedly heading toward Kloof Nek Road. Her sudden disappearance prompted a desperate plea for help across social media, with family and friends describing her as vulnerable and urging the public to assist in locating her. After days of silence, hope turned to sorrow when Pelser's body was found in a guesthouse room, following a police investigation that traced her bank card activity to the location. Emergency medical services and law enforcement were already at the scene when relatives arrived. The news was confirmed by Beau Solms, the daughter of Pelser's long-time partner, Linlee Solms. 'We're still in the process of notifying the search agencies and asking them to call it off,' said Beau. She and her mother are expected to officially identify the body on Thursday. According to Lieutenant Colonel Fienie Nimb, spokesperson for the Bellville police, no signs of foul play were discovered at the scene. 'She checked in on Sunday. Her death is currently being treated as a suicide. Investigations are ongoing,' said Nimb. During the search, concern had grown after Pelser's phone went offline shortly after she was last seen. Her vehicle had not triggered any new entries in the License Plate Recognition (LPR) system, further complicating the efforts to locate her. Non-profit organisation PinkLadies, which supports missing persons cases, had flagged Pelser's case as high priority due to concerns about her emotional wellbeing. The family and authorities await official reports and post-mortem results, but the early findings point to a tragic end to a case that had sparked widespread concern and community involvement. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or emotional distress, please seek help. Contact Lifeline South Africa at 0861 322 322 or the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) at 0800 456 789 (24-hour suicide helpline). Post your condolences below, by … Leaving a comment below, or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Finextra
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Finextra
5 things parking operators should do to make parking payments convenient: By Nikunj Gundaniya
The fastest way to lose a Parker? Make paying harder than parking. Long lines at pay stations. Apps that freeze or confuse. Broken machines. These aren't just minor inconveniences; they're friction points that chip away at customer satisfaction and, eventually, revenue. Today's users expect fast, flexible, and stress-free ways to pay. And if they don't get it from you, they'll find another lot that does. In this blog, you will learn five simple but impactful things parking operators like you can do right now to make payments more convenient. Without any further ado, let's get straight to the point. 1. Eliminate friction at entry and exit points For most people, paid parking feels like a chore. So, the job for parking lot operators like you is to make it feel less like a chore by any means. And the experience at the entry/exit gate often sets the tone. When vehicles get stuck at these points, customer satisfaction takes a direct hit. Long queues and slow-moving lines create stress, especially during peak hours or in high-demand urban zones. The culprit? It's often the outdated payment systems that rely on: Physical tickets Manual payment Poor signage Apart from that, lost tickets, slow barriers, and awkward payment terminals add more friction to the users. To keep the cars flowing smoothly, you should have proper parking payment technology to do the heavy lifting. Streamlining vehicle flow with smarter tech License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems can automatically identify vehicles as they enter or exit your parking lot. This eliminates the need for paper tickets or manual input. Pair this with digital ticketing via mobile apps, and the entire entry-exit process becomes touch-free. Sensor-based systems take this even further. These systems automatically initiate parking sessions and trigger payments without the driver doing a thing. These options aren't just about speed; they remove points of friction and create a smoother, more predictable parking experience. 2. Offer multiple payment options Convenience starts with giving people the ability to pay how they want because no one likes being cornered into using a method that's unfamiliar or inconvenient. Credit and debit cards are still widely used, but digital wallets—like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and local equivalents—have become the norm. Supporting a variety of payment methods creates flexibility. And flexibility is what turns a routine transaction into a positive experience. Moving away from cash and on-site kiosks The fewer customers that rely on cash or physical kiosks, the better. Why? It's because maintaining these machines is costly, and downtime leads to missed revenue. Besides, from a hygiene standpoint, contactless payments are now standard, especially in healthcare-adjacent or high-footfall areas like airports, hospitals, and shopping centers. For parking operators like you, digital payments also mean Better tracking Fewer manual errors Reduced overhead When you offer multiple ways to pay without needing to touch a kiosk, you meet customer expectations and also future-proof your operation. 3. Build a mobile-first experience Your customer's smartphone is their command center. From searching for a spot to paying, people do most things on their smartphones. It's also because it's super convenient. A mobile-first experience gives users real-time control. And when it comes to paying for parking, people will want options, and paying through a smartphone is most likely to be among the top choices. This level of convenience reduces reliance on staff, minimizes hardware costs, and unlocks more efficient parking management. Apps unlock loyalty and more A well-designed mobile app does more than facilitate transactions. It becomes a tool for loyalty and engagement. Offering perks, discounts, or subscriptions through your app can keep users coming back. And when you build this on a closed-loop payment system, you centralize everything under your brand. From loyalty points to parking passes to promotions, it's all in one place—without needing third-party platforms that dilute your customer relationships. With closed-loop payments for parking, the entire journey—entry, payment, rewards—is unified in one digital experience. That's what creates long-term customer value. 4. Simplify signage and user instructions Unclear instructions or inconsistent signage do more damage than you might think. They create confusion, slow down transactions, and frustrate drivers, especially for first-time or infrequent users. If your customers don't understand where or how to pay, they hesitate. That hesitation causes congestion and, in some cases, results in unpaid sessions or abandoned lots. That's why clarity at every step is essential. Consistent, visual guidance makes a difference Think of signage and user prompts as part of your user interface. They should be clean, consistent, and easy to follow, regardless of the customer's language or familiarity with your facility. So, how do you achieve that? Use plain language. Add icons. Show step-by-step visuals. Even better, you can pair digital signage with real-time prompts in your mobile app to guide users through the process. Simple directions reduce friction and help customers feel confident, which increases compliance and cuts down on staff interventions. A smooth payment journey isn't just about speed; it's about making sure people don't get lost along the way. 5. Implement automated and seamless payment technologies The best payment experience is one the user barely notices. When parking feels effortless, people are more likely to return. Automation can remove repetitive tasks for both the customer and the operator, like you. So, how can that be done? For that, your parking payment system should: Save vehicle preferences Pre-authorize payments Set up recurring billing for monthly parkers These aren't perks; they're expectations for a modern payment experience. Turning one-time visitors into returning customers Offering automatic billing for frequent parkers or business fleets significantly improves convenience. Plus, it also builds loyalty. You become part of their routine. And that routine becomes revenue. Closed-loop payment systems for parking add another layer of efficiency and control. So, instead of sending every transaction through external providers, you keep the payments in-house—via branded wallet apps and parking passes or cards. This reduces third-party fees and gives you direct control over pricing, offers, and user data. You're no longer dependent on someone else's platform. You'll have your own payment ecosystem. Final thoughts: Every step toward convenience is a step toward revenue When you remove friction, offer choice, and focus on clarity, your customers are going to notice that. They spend less time figuring things out and more time trusting your system. A convenient parking payment experience isn't just a win for drivers; it's also a competitive edge for operators like you. Closed-loop payment solutions for parking make that possible. They centralize everything in one ecosystem, reduce costs, and build brand loyalty without overhauling your existing setup. If you want long-term value, loyalty, and full control over your parking payment operation, it's time to think beyond the basics.
The Citizen
14-05-2025
- The Citizen
FBW expands camera network
Florida Block Watch (FBW) is making massive strides in enhancing the area's safety. The introduction of their ambitious camera project – and the recent announcement that they had purchased their first License Plate Recognition (LPR) camera – has garnered much praise from FBW members and residents alike. 'It's still early days,' says FBW chairperson John Kirsten, adding that the project is driven mainly by FBW members Win Schönfeldt and Casper van der Westhuizen. 'We currently have four facial recognition cameras and one LPR. 'The LPR camera is being fitted with the necessary protection and connections to enable it to be used as a mobile camera that can be deployed wherever it is needed throughout the FBW coverage area.' According to Casper, the current camera monitoring system at their disposal has space for a further 32 cameras. Also read: Florida Block Watch holds clean-up project 'We have agreements in place with prominent local security companies to conduct 24-hour monitoring of our cameras, which helps provide some peace of mind for our residents, while at the same time adding value for the security companies,' he says. Wim adds that residents residing in the FBW coverage area, who have street-facing cameras, are invited to add their cameras to the FBW network. 'We would need to ensure that the cameras are compatible with our monitoring network, but we specifically chose a system that is well-known for its wide compatibility with other systems.' He adds that in other areas, great success has been achieved in safeguarding neighbourhoods through the use of facial recognition, standard CCTV, and LPR cameras. 'We are determined to use any means at our disposal to ensure the continued safety of our residents. Camera technology has more than proven its worth in reaching these objectives.' For more information on the FBW camera initiative, send an email to info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
