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BLUE ALERT FOR THE WEEK PRECEEDING 8 JULY 2010 It seems that every time a movie makes it big, we get a sequel (except for Titanic of course, but only because they could only sink it once). None the less when producers are on to a winning formula they try and milk it for all it’s worth – like Rocky for example (although we all agree that this was pushed a little too far), and would you believe it we now have Shrek 4. In a way criminals are no different to movie producers, when they hit on a winning recipe, they keep it going for as long as possible. The winning recipe at the moment is “gate crashing”. Over the last four years we have distributed literally hundreds of thousands of emails and printed newsletters, warning about “gate crashing” and yet each time it happens the residents are amazed at how quick and how organized these criminals are. People, listen up, “gate crashing” is a very real problem, and it is getting worse. The modus operandi is simple, up to four suspects in a car drive up to your gate – they lift it off the rails if it is a sliding gate, or disengage the swing arms if it is a swing gate. They then drive up to your house, and use a crow bar to remove your security gate, after which they bash down the door and rush into your home. The gang splits up and heads to the lounge, office and main bedroom. They leave again within minutes with your flat screen TV, computer, laptop, digital camera, jewelery and the safe from the main cupboard containing your firearm. (and of course anything else of value that they come across.) If you have an alarm won’t stop to ransack all of your cupboards and turn your house upside down, when you walk in it will take a while to register that you’ve been robbed, for criminals this type of housebreaking is all about speed and knowing where to look – They can be in and out in under two minutes, and you’re out of pocket to the tune of a good few thousand Rand. Our advice is that if you are not going to take preventative measures, don’t be obvious about where you keep your safe and valuables. Enough ranting, let’s take a look at what else has been going on this week. Springfield Park, Peters Road. Hijacking (01 July 2010, 09:15)
Resident was hijacked by 2 armed black males. His blue VW Polo (ND 172635), wallet and cell phone was stolen. Kloof, Old Main Road. Armed Robbery - Residential (02 July 2010, 15:56)
On arrival home, resident found the door to his house open and the domestic worker locked up in the back room of the house. The domestic worker reported that a number of armed black males jumped over the rear wall and broke the locks on the back door and gate. Suspects then grabbed her and locked her up in the room. A TV was stolen. Hillcrest, Nqutu Road. Armed Robbery – Residential (04 July 2010, 08:39)
Two black males driving a red VW Polo held church-goer up at gunpoint. Suspects broke the windows of a car in the parking area. On hearing the sound of glass breaking, people from the church ran out. Suspects fled the scene. The property gate was damaged. OK, that’s not even funny….held up at a church!
Durban North, Cadogan Drive. Gate Crashing / Armed Robbery - Residential (05 July 2010, 18:43)
The domestic worker saw 5 black males break down the gate and enter the premises. Suspects gained entry by breaking open the front door. A firearm, digital camera, 6 cell phones, a Sony Playstation 3, computer, 42 inch Flat screen TV, jewellery, 30 bottles of wine, clothing, cosmetics, docking station and surround sound system was stolen. Suspects fled in a black BMW. Sheesh, this was a stash of note…and unfortunately, another firearm stolen.
La Lucia, Woodbury Avenue. Gatecrashing - Residential (30 June 2010, 02:47)
Suspects gained entry by forcing open the driveway gate. A black flatbed trailer with two black jet skis was stolen. A trailer cover off another trailer parked in the yard was also stolen. Sunningdale, Tamarind Close. Gatecrashing - Residential (04 July 2010, 18:56)
Front driveway gate was forced open and entry gained via front door. A laptop was stolen.
Springfield, Intersite Avenue. Gatecrashing - Business (30 June 2010, 04:51)
Front gate was derailed and motor damaged. The front door was forced open and entry gained. Company laptops were stolen. Pinetown, Waring Road. Gatecrashing - Business (04 July 2010, 17:38)
Front gate derailed and entry gained by forcing open front glass door and burglar guards. A computer was stolen. Durban North, Balmoral Drive. Gatecrashing - Business (05 July 2010, 02:02)
Front driveway gate was derailed and entry gained by forcing open the front door. Two LCD screens were stolen. La Lucia, Laughton Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (29 June 2010, 18:38)
Front door and gate was left unlocked. A laptop and cash was stolen. OK, not sure that we can call it housebreaking if they didn’t need to break anything to get inside?
Shongweni, Under the Marula. Housebreaking - Residential (30 June 2010, 05:03)
Suspects forced open upstairs door gaining entry. A LCD TV, camera and car keys were stolen.
Kloof, Quentin Smythe Road. Housebreaking - Residential (30 June 2010, 18:14)
Suspects entered through a small interleading gate which was left unlocked. Suspects then broke down the front door and security gates. Entry was gained by forcing open the front door. Two laptops, jewellery, a hair straightener, digital camera and cell phone was stolen.
Bulwer, Cleveland Place. Housebreaking - Residential (30 June 2010, 19:51)
Toilet window was left open. Suspects gained entry by pushing in burglar guards. A DVD home theatre system, Blackberry charger and bag was stolen.
Bluff / Jacobs, Doble Road. Housebreaking - Residential (02 July 2010, 22:57)
Suspects jumped over the gate and gained entry via the bedroom window. A safe containing cash was stolen. If a safe is stolen, can it still be called “safe”? It seems to us that now-a-days a safe is actually pretty unsafe. We’re open to ideas on what to call them in future. Maybe metalboxthingy?
Umbilo, Hopson Road. Housebreaking - Business (01 July 2010, 06:21)
Entry gained by smashing the front window and forcing the burglar bars in. A flat screen TV was stolen.
Parkhill, Everest Road. Housebreaking - Business (02 July 2010, 06:19)
Cables were cut and copper pipes stolen.
Jacobs, Landsdowne Road. Housebreaking - Business (02 July 2010, 08:06)
Suspects forced open iron sheeting at the rear of the property gaining entry. Various tools and 3 computers were stolen.
Briardene, Cordova Close. Housebreaking - Business (02 July 2010, 09:16)
Guard was tied up and entry gained by smashing window on the upper level. A flat screen and computer was stolen.
Glenwood / Glenmore, Fielden Drive. Housebreaking - Business (03 July 2010, 15:07)
Front window and burglar guards were forced open. Three computer towers and a DVD player was stolen.
Pinetown, Hagarth Road. Housebreaking - Business (04 July 2010, 17:46)
A black male held up a gentleman on site at gun point, taking his cell phone and mobile radio. Three other black males broke the front gate chain and lock, forced opened the gate and gained entry gained via front door. Five computers were stolen.
Morningside, Windermere Road. Housebreaking - Business (05 July 2010, 07:07)
Suspects pulled out burglar guards gaining entry. A computer tower and screen was stolen.
Morningside, Stamfordhill Road. Housebreaking - Business (05 July 2010, 07:55)
Suspects removed the putty on the side window, neatly removing the glass. An undisclosed amount of cash and shoes were stolen. Aah, clever trick, we haven’t seen this for a while. This modus operandi is to remove the putty of a cottage pane window (often the bathroom) and take the glass out without breaking it. They then put their hand through and open up the window, which more often than not is not protected by a magnetic contact. Once they have gained entry, they close the window and an accomplice replaces the glass. Now if the alarm goes off and somebody takes a walk around the property they won’t see any signs of forced entry – in the mean time the criminal is holed up inside. That’s why it’s always better to conduct an internal inspection. Durban North, Holmpark Park. Theft (04 July 2010, 06:51)
Clothes from the washing line, to the value of R8000, was stolen. OMG, was that a diamond encrusted evening gown, R8K, that’s probably more than my entire wardrobe.
Malvern, Palmeston Road. Theft out of Motor Vehicle (02 July 2010, 16:15)
A white VW Golf was broken into. Four mag wheels and the leather seats were stolen. SUCCESSES Westville, Essex Place. Attempted Hijacking (29 June 2010, 19:36)
Resident arrived home in his bronze Lexus and entered his driveway. Two black males, armed with pistols, approached the vehicle and banged on the windows demanding that he exit the vehicle. Resident did not open the vehicle. Suspects then moved towards the rear of the vehicle. Resident unlocked the vehicle and ran into the garden area, but suspects gave chase and caught him. Resident was assaulted. Resident’s wife saw the commotion and pressed the panic. Suspects fled in an unknown direction. A laptop was stolen from the vehicle. Whoa, I want to say that this guy was lucky, but let’s get real; there is nothing lucky about getting hijacked. Getting away with your life after a skirmish with armed hijackers, that is lucky – now go on and do great things, you’ve clearly been given another chance. Our advice always is to never, never tempt a man with a gun in his hand – you never know what the outcome could be. Well done on pressing the panic though – quick thinking clearly saved the day! Glen Hills, Macushla Drive (02 July 2010, 18:57)
A gold VW Golf was recovered. Overport, Brickfield Road. Housebreaking - Business (01 July 2010, 02:57)
Suspects entered via main entrance door and gate which was unlocked. A microwave, 3 computers and cash from tills was stolen. A black male suspect was apprehended outside premises and an Indian male was also suspected of being in possession of premises keys. The microwave was recovered. Doonside, Hillside Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (05 July 2010, 03:38)
Whilst Blue Security Reaction Officer was on patrol when he noticed an abandoned bakkie on the roadside with its lights on. It seems that suspects had gained entry into the vehicle via the driver side door, but could not start the vehicle Amanzimtoti, Lewis Drive. Theft out of Motor Vehicle (05 July 2010, 04:34)
Suspect attempted to start vehicle. This sound woke the resident. A black male suspect, wearing dark clothing, was spotted by resident. Suspect jumped over the gate and fled the scene. Resident has vicious watch dogs on site, who somehow didn't detect the suspect in the yard. Where these vicious attack dogs of the Pomeranian breed perhaps? Attempted housebreaking where nothing was confirmed stolen: Bothas Hill, Old Main Road (30 June 2010, 03:43)
Bothas Hill, Wooten Avenue (01 July 2010, 05:09)
Durban Central, Smith Street (04 July 2010, 00:54)
Durban North, North Coast Road (30 June 2010, 11:55)
Gillits, Trevennen Road (03 July 2010, 08:08)
Glenwood, Moorlands Road (29 June 2010, 20:24)
Glenwood, Evans Road (30 June 2010, 04:22)
Hillcrest, Springside Road (01 July 2010, 01:10)
Hillcrest , Shongweni Road (05 July 2010, 23:28)
Hillcrest , Emoyeni Drive (06 July 2010, 03:07)
Kloof, Buckingham Road (01 July 2010, 03:03)
Pinetown, Mimosa Avenue (01 July 2010, 09:50)
Redhill, Hycinth Road (02 July 2010, 14:55)
Sherwood, Loon Road (04 July 2010, 03:42)
Sunningdale, Fig Tree Rise (01 July 2010, 03:53)
Umbilo, Oliver Lea Drive (30 June 2010, 14:53)
Warner Beach, Morton Lane (03 July 2010, 15:56)
Waterfall / Crestholme, Horseshoe Crescent (01 July 2010, 08:48)
Westmead, Goodwood Road (30 June 2010, 07:42)
Westville, Tyburn Avenue (29 June 2010, 19:35)
Westville, Avon Drive (03 July 2010, 16:39)
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