BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEEDING 1 JULY 2010

Just when we thought that the criminals were giving it a bit of a break for the world cup we have a rush of housebreakings, who knows, maybe they lost interest after Bafana Bafana got eliminated? Whatever the reason, it just means that we have to keep the vigilance levels up. Let’s take a look at what has been going on this past week.

Hillcrest, Old Main Road. Armed Robbery - Business (23 June 2010, 05:17)
Security Guard on site was held up by 2 armed black males. Suspects stole premises keys and 2 computers. They fled in a black car.
    
Springfield Park, Palmfield. Armed Robbery - Business (25 June 2010, 10:58)
Three black males held staff up at gun point. Cash and other valuables were stolen. 

Glenwood / Glenmore, Bowen Avenue. Armed Robbery – Residential (24 June 2010, 17:25)
3 armed suspects entered the premises via the security gate which was left open and forced opened the back door. Suspects forced residents to lie flat on the ground. Two cell phones, laptops and other items were stolen.

Westville, Kirkmicheal Road. Armed Robbery - Residential (26 June 2010, 01:58)
3 suspects entered the premises and gained entry by breaking right hand side bedroom window. One of the suspects held resident up with a knife. A laptop, jewellery, wallet, clothes and 5 cell phones were stolen.

It seems as if these bad guys like to work in teams of 3, they probably think if it worked for the Musketeers, it will work for them.
    
Kloof, Msinsi Road. Housebreaking – Residential (23 June 2010, 10:09)
Driveway gate was forced open and entry gained by breaking open the rear window to the lounge. A plasma TV and hi-fi were stolen.
    
Waterfall, Horseshoe Crescent.  Housebreaking - Residential (23 June 2010, 16:03)
Suspects forced open bedroom window, gaining entry. Various items were reported stolen.
    
Kloof, Abelta Road. Housebreaking - Residential (23 June 2010, 17:10)
Suspects forced open burglar bars and bedroom window, gaining entry. A DVD player and jewellery were stolen.
    
Durban North, Ennisdale Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (24 June 2010, 08:56)
A cell phone and electronic photo frame were stolen from kitchen window which was left open.

Aha!…the fisherman returns.
    
Glenwood, Edmonds Road. Housebreaking - Residential (24 June 2010, 11:13)
Suspects broke into the granny flat by pulling front gate off the wall. A laptop, Puma takkies, 500GB Hard Drive and wallet with R500 cash were stolen.
    
Durban North, Stirling Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (25 June 2010, 18:19)
Driveway gate was forced open and entry gained by forcing open front door. Stolen items included three TV’s, a laptop and a gun safe containing cash, a 9mm pistol and 2 magazines, which was ripped off the wall in the bedroom cupboard.

We’ve pointed it out in the past, and we’re going to keep doing it until everybody gets the message. Be careful, this time we’re using all uppercase; it’s the typed version of shouting: THE FIRST PLACE A CRIMINAL WILL LOOK FOR YOUR SAFE IS THE BEDROOM CUPBOARD. Did you get that? A top tip is to keep a ‘dummy safe’ in that spot, and then install the actual safe containing your valuables in another discreet spot.
    
Umbilo, Harrietwood Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (25 June 2010, 21:04)
A Sony Playstation and computer game were fished out of a window.
    
Gillitts, Lynnwood Road. Housebreaking - Residential (25 June 2010, 22:46)
Entry gained via the kitchen window, which was forced opened. A toaster and kettle were stolen.
    
Glenmore, Downing Road. Housebreaking - Residential (26 June 2010, 03:58)
Suspect jumped over the wall. Outbuilding door was left unlocked. A Nokia cell phone was stolen. 

Durban, Glenwood Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (26 June 2010, 10:03)
The domestic worker saw a black male steal a petrol hedge trimmer from the front yard.
    
Gillitts, Barbett Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (26 June 2010, 15:28)
Suspects lifted driveway gate and entered property. Entry was gained by smashing open front double wooden door. A safe containing cash and jewellery, live ammunition, a blanket valued at R1200, golf clubs and 2 plasma TVs were stolen. As suspects attempted to leave the property in a silver Mercedes Benz (ND120779), resident arrived home. She tried to block the driveway with her white VW Polo but the 4 black male suspects drove into her vehicle and managed to escape.

Wow, this was a brave woman. But is does raise an interesting point, what do you do if you come home and find yourself in the same position as this lady? Let’s get something clear - there is absolutely no way that we can agree that you put yourself in harm’s way, just to save a few material possessions. Our number one piece of advice, prevention is better than cure. However if you cannot prevent a criminal intrusion, early detection is the key. With professional “gate-crashing” showing no sign of decreasing, your best defense is to fortify your gate and place a detector (industrial magnetic contact or beam) on or across the gate. This is going to do two things, firstly it is going to slow them down (and possibly deter them), secondly it is going to let us know that there has been an attempted intrusion – before they get into your property. The extra few minutes will make all the difference.

Getting back to what to do if you do happen to come across intruders in your driveway, well unless you’re trained and equipped to deal with the situation (maybe you’re a policeman or an off duty Ninja), stay well out of the way, these guys are more often than not armed and have no problem shooting their way out of a situation.
    
Sunningdale, The Curl. Housebreaking - Residential (26 June 2010, 17:47)
Suspects damaged gate motor and gained entry by forcing open front door. A TV and watch were stolen.
    
Glenmore, Dan Pienaar Street. Housebreaking – Residential (26 June 2010, 19:16)
Entry gained by forcing open rear door. A Blackberry and Samsung cell phone were stolen.
    
Westville, Morewood Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (27 June 2010, 14:19)
Suspects jumped fence and entered property by breaking rear bedroom window. The bedroom was ransacked and jewellery was stolen.
    
Westville, Menstone Road. Housebreaking - Residential (27 June 2010, 16:19)
Entry gained via the main bedroom window. Jewellery and clothing were stolen.
    
Pinetown, Glenridge Road. Housebreaking - Residential (28 June 2010, 06:58)
Suspects broke in at the rear of premises by pulling up the fiberglass roof sheeting from the patio area. A  toaster and other items from the kitchen area were stolen.
  
New Germany, Gordan Pirrie Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (28 June 2010, 11:52)
Suspects tampered with the gate motor and main driveway gates were opened. Entry gained into premises by forcing open front door and gate. A cell phone and laptop were stolen.
    
Bothas Hill, Old Main Road. Housebreaking – Residential (28 June 2010, 13:45)
A black male suspect jumped over the fence and entered property. Suspect stole the domestic worker’s handbag from the unlocked laundry room.    

Glenwood / Glenmore, Evans Road. Housebreaking - Residential (29 June 2010, 01:18)
The alarm system was not armed due to having a new puppy in the house. Suspects removed the rear veranda window and gained entry. Resident heard voices and pressed the panic. Cash, jewellery, 2 cell phones and a wallet were stolen.

The presence of animals (yes even cutise wootsies wittle puppies) should never be the reason why you alarm should not be armed, modern alarm systems can be designed around your lifestyle and your pets.
    
Bluff, Marine Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (29 June 2010, 03:33)
Entry gained via pool room window. An unconfirmed amount of valuables were stolen.
    
Mahogany Ridge, Mahogany Road. Housebreaking - Business (24 June 2010, 05:16)
Entry gained by forcing open main gate and door. A computer was stolen. Suspects fled in a grey Opel Corsa.
    
Glen Anil, Glen Anil Street. Housebreaking - Business (25 June 2010, 05:33)
Suspects gained entry by damaging the main gate and smashing open the front door. Three computer towers and 4 monitors were stolen.
    
Umbilo, Shrewsbury Avenue. Housebreaking – Business (25 June 2010, 23:50)
Entry gained by forcing open front door and gate. A laptop and cash were stolen.
    
Durban, Gale Street. Housebreaking - Business (26 June 2010, 05:29)
Suspects forced open front roller shutter. Entry was gained into premises. A computer tower and machinery were stolen.
    
Glenwood, Campbell Road. Housebreaking – Business (26 June 2010, 07:37)
Entry gained by breaking the rear toilet window. A computer screen, microwave and kettle were stolen.

Hey wena! What’s with all the kitchen appliances being stolen this past week? First a toaster, now a microwave and kettle – must be the SA version of Hell’s Kitchen?
    
Kloof, Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Business (26 June 2010, 22:04)
Suspects broke the rear window in order to gain entry. A hi-fi was stolen.
        
Durban, Winder Street. Housebreaking - Business (27 June 2010, 17:57)
Entry gained via rear office window. A computer monitor was stolen.
    
Amanzimtoti, Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Business (27 June 2010, 18:10)
Suspects cut open the fence and stole an unconfirmed amount of metal sheeting.
   
Mayville, Jan Smuts Highway. Housebreaking - Business (28 June 2010, 05:03)
Suspects cut the locks on main driveway and pedestrian gate and gained entry. The front door and security gate was ripped out of its mountings and the front door was forced open. Five computer towers and 1 monitor were stolen.
    
Pinetown, Devon Road. Housebreaking - Business (28 June 2010, 06:50)
Suspects pulled up metal roof sheeting of store room area and broke the wooden door and locks of the gate of the main building, gaining entry. Two computers, a CCTV monitoring system and an undisclosed amount of cash were stolen.
    
Westville, Eleanora Road. Housebreaking – Business (29 June 2010, 02:24)
Entry gained onto premises by cutting the barbed wire and removing a window removed. A computer tower was stolen.
    
Austerville, Austerville Drive. Theft (23 June 2010, 06:20)
Copper pipes were stolen.
    
Westville, Chester Terrace. Theft (23 June 2010, 08:29)
Two intruders cut perimeter fence and stole 2 yellow bikes from resident’s court yard.
    
Durban North, Balmoral Drive. Theft (28 June 2010, 05:32)
Suspects jumped over wall and stole a Giant bicycle valued at R7000 from the veranda area.
   
Glenwood, Sir Duncan Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (23 June 2010, 17:22)
A black Toyota Tazz was stolen.
    
Amanzimtoti, Gus Brown Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (24 June 2010, 08:00)
A blue Mazda hatchback (ZJM 351 GP) was stolen.
    
Sunningdale, Lemon Tree Lane. Theft of Motor Vehicle (26 June 2010, 13:16)
A white Nissan Sentra (NUR 11074) was stolen from the premises.

SUCCESSES

Glenmore, River Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (22 June 2010, 16:10)
Suspects gained entry by smashing small glass panel on garage door and opening the latch. Two black male suspects were apprehended by Blue Security Reaction Officer and a community watch member from the area. The stolen tools were recovered.

Now that’s teamwork!

Glenwood, Queen Mary Avenue. Housebreaking - Business (27 June 2010, 04:53)
Four black male suspects were found departing property in a black Honda Jazz (NPN 80854). Blue Security Reaction Officer fired 2 shots, which hit the suspects’ front tyres, and gave chase to the suspects. One suspect was apprehended by Blue Security Reaction Officer while the other 3 suspects managed to flee on foot. The stolen items, 4 computers and a flat screen TV were recovered from inside the suspects’ vehicle. Upon further investigation it was found that suspects gained entry by forcing open the security gate and smashing the glass of main entrance door.  

Attempted housebreaking where nothing was confirmed stolen:

Amanzimtoti, Umdoni Road (25 June 2010, 16:31)
Amanzimtoti, Dick King Road (28 June 2010, 13:40)
Berea, Vause Road (26 June 2010, 13:10)
Berea, Lancers Road (28 June 2010, 10:38)
Cowies Hill, Old Main Road (23 June 2010, 04:27)
Durban, Gardiner Street (23 June 2010, 01:53)
Durban North, Old Mill Way (29 June 2010, 00:00)
Essenwood, Stirling Grove (25 June 2010, 22:49)
Gillits, Barbet Avenue (26 June 2010, 19:07)
Glen Anil, Beech Road (26 June 2010, 17:59)
Glenwood, Francios Road (27 June 2010, 09:58)
Hillcrest, Old Main Road ( 28 June 2010, 20:22)
Kloof, Village Road (23 June 2010, 05:29)
Kloof, Robertson Avenue (26 June 2010, 18:29)
La Lucia, Emin Terrace (28 June 2010, 18:09)
Malvern, Byron Place (23 June 2010, 09:34)
Malvern, Old Main Road (23 June 2010, 20:43)
Manor Gardens, Rif Road (23 June 2010, 18:50)
Manor Gardens, Queen Elizabeth Avenue (24 June 2010, 12:17)
Manor Gardens, Elland Road (24 June 2010, 22:33)
Montclair, Buller Road (25 June 2010, 12:04)
New Germany, Blair Atholl Road (26 June 2010, 08:47)
New Germany, Umdoni Road (26 June 2010, 18:49)
Pinetown, Kiosk Hill Street. 22 June 2010, 21:10)
Pinetown,Old Main Road (24 June 2010, 06:53)
Pinetown, Victory Road (24 June 2010, 09:50)
Pinetown, St johns Avenue (26 June 2010, 02:45)
Pinetown, Old Main Road (28 June 2010, 15:47)
Rossburgh, Pinedene Road (26 June 2010, 21:42)
Springfield, Peter Road (26 June 2010, 18:52)
Umbilo, Enfield Road (26 June 2010, 09:49)
Westriding, Leslie Road (28 June 2010, 13:11)
Westville, Chearsley Road (26 June 2010, 15:43)
Westville, Kinloch Avenue (29 June 2010, 03:47)