BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEEDING 25 JANUARY 2010

We are finding more and more often that brazen criminals have the audacity to break into a property whilst the resident is at home – the reason – unarmed burglar alarms and open doors and windows makes their job a whole lot easier. Two elements of a good security system are early detection and quality barrier security, both of which will ensure that you don’t get caught by surprise. 

Let’s take a look at what has been happening this week, so that you can learn from the experiences of others.

Kloof, Coghill Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (20 January 2010, 02:59)
Entry gained via lounge window that was left open. A DVD player and Play Station II were stolen.  
    
Glenwood / Glenmore, Grosvenor Road. Housebreaking - Residential (21 January 2010, 12:54)
Entry gained by forcing open driveway gate and front sliding door. A DVD player was stolen.
    
Amanzimtoti, Sykes Road. Housebreaking - Residential (21 January 2010, 14:33)
Two suspects forced open front window burglar bars. When suspects entered they saw female resident and fled with 2 laptops via same window.

This poor woman was very shaken after this incident, and who could blame her, this could easily have escalated into highly dangerous situation.
    
Waterfall / Crestholme, Baildon Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (22 January 2010, 05:49)
Suspects entered property via front window that was left open. Alarm system had not been armed. A plasma TV was stolen.
    
Umhlanga / La Lucia, Westridge Road. Housebreaking - Residential (22 January 2010, 12:49)
A suspect came onto the premises and spoke to the domestic on site. Whilst domestic was talking to this ‘decoy’, 2 other suspects entered the property via the rear door. A plasma TV was stolen.

Tricky, tricky! We keep saying it – educate your staff, set clear rules, do not allow any strangers onto your property. Criminals are getting smarter and police/municipal uniforms are easy obtained by these tricksters.
    
Hillcrest, Mill Road. Housebreaking - Residential (22 January 2010, 14:15)
Entry was gained by breaking dinning room window. A laptop, camera and cell phone were stolen.
    
Amanzimtoti, Lewis Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (22 January 2010, 22:51)
Suspects gained entry by forcing open front door gaining access to the downstairs bedroom. Resident was at home in the upstairs area at the time. Two cell phones, a watch, shoes and jewellery were stolen.

Another burglary whilst the resident was at home. Scary stuff…
    
Berea, Chancellor Road. Housebreaking - Residential (24 January 2010, 01:21)
Suspects gained entry by cutting open the security gate. The entire premises were ransacked.
    
Forest Hills, Queens Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (24 January 2010, 12:28)
Entry gained by smashing lounge window and pushing in burglar guards. A hi-fi system and DVD player were stolen.
    
Marianhill, Esser Road. Housebreaking - Residential (24 January 2010, 13:39)
Entry gained by forcing open window facing the pool area and pushing in burglar guards. Blue Security Reaction Officer patrolled the property, but was unable to ascertain what was missing as resident was not contactable.

Are your key-holder details up to date with your security company? Blue Security clients can simply email updated contact details to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Remember to include at least 2 other key-holders that can be contacted if you’re not available.
    
Berea, Brettwood Road. Housebreaking - Residential (24 January 2010, 14:23)
Whilst Blue Security Reaction Officer was patrolling the area he heard a female screaming for help. On investigation he found resident bleeding from her left arm. She advised the Reaction Officer that 2 black males had entered via her kitchen door that was left unlocked. She attempted to escape her premises by breaking through the bedroom window and was subsequently cut by a broken glass. Blue Security Reaction Officer checked premises and found that suspects had fled the scene with 3 cell phones and a PSP.

Another unlocked door, another criminal entering whilst resident is at home.
    
Durban North, Balmoral Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (25 January 2010, 14:54)
Suspects gained entry onto property by climbing over the wall. Suspects stole a mountain bike from resident’s twin cab bakkie, which had been left unlocked.
    
Hillcrest, Albinia Road. Housebreaking - Residential (26 January 2010, 02:30)
Suspects gained entry by breaking open rear sliding door. A plasma TV, handbag and LG laptop were stolen.
    
Pinetown, Maurice Nichols Road. Housebreaking - Business (20 January 2010, 10:39)
Entry gained by pushing open driveway gate and forcing security gate out of the wall with a crowbar. A plasma TV and computer tower were stolen.
    
Morningside, Sutton Crescent. Housebreaking - Business (21 January 2010, 20:33)
Suspect cut electric fence on Winderemere Road and gained entry into the yard stealing 7 aluminuim
chairs.
    
Morningside, Montpelier Road. Housebreaking - Business (22 January 2010, 03:45)
Entry gained by forcing open front door. A computer and cash box were stolen.
    
Berea, Cato Road. Housebreaking - Business (22 January 2010, 04:55)
Front pedestrian gate leading onto the property was forced open and suspects gained entry into property by forcing open front door. A computer was stolen.
    
Morningside, Poplar Road. Housebreaking - Business (22 January 2010, 05:17)
Entry gained via open front window next to the main door. Four computers were stolen.

As mentioned above, there is a definite pattern emerging. Open window = easier access.
    
Pinetown, Freese Road. Housebreaking - Business (22 January 2010, 09:29)
Entry gained by forcing open front door. A generator and copper piping were stolen.
    
Pinetown, Corner of Moodie and Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Business (23 January 2010, 01:44)
Suspects gained entry via the rear of the premises by forcing open roller door. Resident still to advise what was stolen.
    
Stamford Hill, Station Road. Housebreaking - Business (25 January 2010, 05:27)
Entry gained by forcing open front door. A computer, microwave and TV were stolen.
    
Amanzimtoti, Corner of  Tecoma and Saltwood Road. Mugging – Assault (22 January 2010, 15:24)
Victim was robbed by 3 black males. Her cell and handbag were stolen.
    
Amanzimtoti, Amanzimtoti Drive. Mugging – Assault (23 January 2010, 13:46)
Suspect approached black female as she walked out of local mall, snatched her handbag and fled.
    
Amanzimtoti, Commercial Road. Mugging – Assault (23 January 2010, 18:42)
Blue Security Reaction Officer noticed suspicious character in car guard uniform outside premises and advised him to leave. Suspect then assaulted the Reaction Officer and fled the scene.
    
Durban North, Umhlanga Rocks Drive. Mugging – Assault (23 January 2010, 20:11)
Victim was held up by 2 black males at the corner of Church and Claredon Road in Umhlanga. Suspects took his cell phone and wallet containing R750-00 cash. Suspects then fled the scene.

Amanzimtoti, Fraser Street. Theft (22 January 2010, 20:46)
Handbag that was left on the bed was fished out via the window.
        
Glenwood / Glenmore, Mountain Rise. Theft (23 January 2010, 08:00)
Two vehicles (a Maroon Opel Astra and Toyota Corolla) which were parked on the premises were broken into. Suspects broke the quarter glass of both vehicles stealing 2 tape decks.
    
Manor Gardens, Nunhead Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (21 January 2010, 19:16)
VW Polo, parked on the pavement outside, was stolen.
    
Gillitts, Hazel Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (22 January 2010, 05:21)
White VW Golf (NU 45339) was stolen from resident’s yard. Vehicle was protected by a gear lock and steering lock. Vehicle has no tracking system.  
     
SUCCESSES

Cowies Hill, Birdhurst Road. Housebreaking - Residential (21 January 2010, 12:32)
Suspects forced open front door and gate. A TV and DVD player were stolen. Items were later recovered at the rear of resident’s premises.
    
Pinetown, Parkview Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (22 January 2010, 20:03)
Suspects gained entry into the premises via the perimeter fence. Suspects then went to the rear of the premises and forced open the bottom half of the stable door. Blue Security Reaction Officer searched the property and found a plasma TV and damaged DVD player on the floor.

Thanks to the Boys in Blue for getting to the crime scene as quickly as possible. These criminals obviously saw them arrive and dropped all the goods, and beat a hasty retreat.
    
Overport, Brickfield Road. Attempted Theft (25 January 2010, 10:26)
Blue Security Reaction Officer noticed a white Ford truck (ND 202075) driving out of the premises with a stolen drop safe in the back. Blue Security Reaction Officer gave chase and apprehended 4 suspects.

Winkelspruit, Gordan Road. Theft (23 January 2010, 06:37)
Blue Security Reaction Officer apprehended 2 suspects in possession of stolen braai and copper pipes.

Amanzimtoti, Beach area. Theft (23 January 2010, 17:58)
A black male pushed victim over on the beach and snatched her cell phone. Members off the public pursued suspect and apprehended him. Suspect was handed over to Blue Security Reaction Officer on site.

Hooray for the brave beach goers!

Pinetown, Manors Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (23 January 2010, 20:07)
White VW Microbus (MFB 091 GP) was stolen during the half hour that the resident was at the back of the property. Vehicle was recovered in Kwa-mashu.
      
Carrington Heights, Forsdicks Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (24 January 2010, 01:15)
Blue Security was alerted that theft of a 1400 white Nissan Bakkie was in progress. The Reaction Officer noticed a silver Hyundai Getz (NJ 26922) parked outside property with two suspects standing across from the premises on either side of a Honda Jazz. Suspect in the Hyundai Getz fired a shot at Blue Security Reaction Officer, who returned fire. Suspects fled the scene, crashing into the bakkie and a light pole in the process. Suspects were later seen in Mountain Rise, thety Reaction Officer gave chase and apprehended one of the suspects.

Phew, this sounds like an action movie…with the complicated plot and shots being fired. Luckily, no one was hurt and the suspect was apprehended. It’s great to have a happy ending to end off the Blue Alert. Well done guys!

Attempted housebreaking where nothing was confirmed stolen:

Amanzimtoti, Bailey Road (20 January 2010, 08:47)
Amanzimtoti, Vasco Da Gama Road (22 January 2010, 20:26)
Berea, Marriot Road (21 January 2010, 22:12)
Chatsworth, Sunset Avenue (23 January 2010, 16:55)
Durban central, Point Road (20 January 2010, 05:35)
Durban central, Hunter Road (25 January 2010, 08:25)
Glen Anil, Columbine Place (20 January 2010, 09:00)
Glenwood / Glenmore, Cromwell Street (22 January 2010, 10:12)
Musgrave, Essenwood Road (23 January 2010, 18:58)
New Germany, Bergthiel Road (21 January 2010, 03:00)
New Germany, Sander Road (23 January 2010, 03:40)
Pinetown, Impola Road (21 January 2010, 01:18)
Springfield Park Ebonyfield Avenue (22 January 2010, 04:31)
Westville, Methven Road (20 January 2010, 01:22)