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BLUE ALERT FOR WEEK PRECEEDING 18 AUGUST 2010 Recently we noticed an increase in criminals attempting daring armed robberies. These criminals use shock tactics and the element of surprise by hijacking you, either as you arrive home or leave your property or by simply smashing through a window and holding you up inside. Most people will comply with the criminals’ demands, which from our point of view is the sensible approach – leave the heroics to the movies. Rather wait until you and your family are out of danger before pressing the panic button and contacting the Police. Ideally you want to prevent this type of incident from occurring, in which case early detection is the key. If however you are unfortunate enough to find yourself a victim of an armed robbery we have posted some survival tips on our website. You will find the link at the end of this report. OK, on that happy note let’s take a look at what has been happening this past week, remembering of course that the reason we do this is not to be the prophets of doom but rather to empower you with the knowledge to protect yourself. Gillitts, McfarLane. Drive. Armed Robbery - Residential (10 August 2010, 20:57)
Resident and his family were approached by 4 armed black men in a white Toyota Tazz as they were leaving their premises. Suspects held them up at gun point and demanded they open the house. Suspects then demanded resident’s cell phones and bank cards, including their PIN codes. Suspects then locked resident and his family in a bedroom. Jewellery, a TV, bicycle, sports bag and a silver grey Hyundai Getz (NU 101662) was stolen. What a traumatic event to have to go through. In this case the resident did the right thing and complied with all the suspects’ demands when they threatened to harm his 11 year old daughter. Although nobody was physically harmed the emotional effects on the family can be severe, it is therefore so important to seek trauma counseling after an incident of this nature. Forest Hills, Forest Drive. Armed Robbery - Residential (12 August 2010, 04:13)
Four suspects smashed through front lounge window and entered the premises. Suspects found resident on site and threatened to kill her with a kitchen knife. Two suspects ransacked the house and stole a LCD TV, projector, handbag, a gold wedding ring and a laptop. Suspects then fled the premises without harming the resident. Blue Security Reaction Officer conducted a check on the property and recovered the TV, projector and the empty handbag. Yet another traumatic event and again the same advice holds true – make sure that you receive professional trauma counseling. At Blue Security we work closely with the Careline Crisis and Trauma Centre, visit their website at www.carelinecrisis.org or call them on 031 765 1587.
Umgeni Park, Queensview Place. Armed Robbery - Business (12 August 2010, 14:52)
The complainant was leaving the premises when she was approached by 3 black male suspects. One of the suspects was armed with a pistol which he pointed at her. Suspects took her handbag which contained her cellphone and a set of keys and remotes for the premises.
Durban, Etna Lane, Armed Robbery - Business (12 August 2010, 19:19)
Complainant was hijacked in the Umlazi area by 4 armed suspects. The suspects then took the complainant to his place of work and held up the security guard on the premises. The suspects forced the complainant to open the safe and proceeded to steal a large sum of cash before fleeing the scene in the complainant’s white Opel Astra.
Berea, Berea Road. Armed Robbery - Business (14 August 2010, 20:21)
Five black male suspects entered take-away franchise posing as customers. Suspects then pulled out firearms, jumped over the counter, held up the staff and stole the cash from the tills before fleeing on foot. Whoa…this gives a whole new meaning to ‘take-away’.
Berea, Berea Road. Armed Robbery - Business (15 August 2010, 21:00)
Four black male suspects entered the premises. Two suspects were armed with pistols and held the staff up at gunpoint. Staff were ordered to open the safe and tills. Suspects fled with +/- R3000 in cash.
Westmead, Stockville Road. Armed Robbery - Business (16 August 2010, 04:07)
Security guard on site was held up at gunpoint and then and tied up inside the guardhouse. Suspects then stacked pallets against the wall in order to reach the office window, which was forced open and entry gained. Five computers, a DVD player and other items were stolen.
Isipingo Hills, James Avenue. Hijacking (13 August 2010, 07:54)
Resident’s friend was parked outside property in her red Opel Astra (ND 516199) when 3 black males approached the vehicle. One suspect was armed with a firearm. Suspects smashed the driver’s side glass and forced lady out of the vehicle. Suspects drove off with her vehicle heading in the direction of Umlazi. Hijackers typically strike when vehicles are stationary. Why? Because it’s pretty difficult to hijack a moving car. That’s why you are at your most vulnerable when you arriving or leaving home, waiting at the robots, or at a stop street (or simply parked on the side of the road outside a school, or even a friend’s house). The lesson, these are the times when you should be on the alert, aware of your surroundings and prepared to drive away if you do happen to notice any suspicious activity.
Bothas Hill, Rob Roy Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (10 August 2010, 17:56)
The kitchen window of the cottage was forced open and burglar guards forced in. A DVD player was stolen. The cottage does not have an alarm system.
Pinetown, Colinton Road. Housebreaking - Residential (11 August 2010, 08:17)
White Kia bakkie was parked in the front yard. Suspects jumped over the wall from neighbour’s property and stole a black tool box containing a drill and other items from the back of the bakkie.
Pinetown, Cobbleset Lane. Housebreaking - Residential (12 August 2010, 13:26)
Suspects used a brick to smash lounge window which was not secured by burglar guards. Jewellery, a Playstation 2, wii entertainment system, Nikon camera and Samsung camera was stolen.
Glenmore, Dan Pienaar Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 August 2010, 18:02)
Suspects removed roof tiles from above the garage and gained entry. Suspects stole 2 power drills, a mini compressor and 5 litres of boat oil. The garage was not protected by the alarm system. Monkeynastics through the roof – works every time if there is no detector to pick-up the suspects! Most people choose to save a bit of money by excluding outbuildings when installing an alarm system, on the basis that there is no high value equipment in the outbuildings. The real problem is not the theft of gardening equipment; it’s the fact that housebreakers use the equipment that they find in your garage to break into your home.
Queensburgh, McDivett Place. Housebreaking - Residential (14 August 2010, 15:32)
Entry gained by forcing open bedroom window and burglar bars. A laptop was stolen. Glenwood, Morris Place. Housebreaking - Residential (14 August 2010, 15:59)
Entry was gained by forcing the kitchen window open. A cell phone and a bicycle from the garage was stolen.
Pinetown, Crompton Street. Housebreaking - Business (10 August 2010, 16:40)
Complainant was busy working in the upstairs office area. Suspects used a bolt cutter and cut the lock on the downstairs workshop roller door and gained entry into the workshop area. A laptop, tools, cash and credit cards were stolen. Suspects fled in a blue Honda.
Westmead, Circuit Road. Housebreaking - Business (11 August 2010, 18:26)
Entry gained by breaking open window broken and burglar bars. Aluminium doors and power tools were stolen. Durban Central, Windermere Road. Housebreaking - Business (12 August 2010, 07:30)
Suspects entered through the pedestrian gate which was not locked. Copper pipes on the outside of the building and cables from the airconditioning unit were stolen.
Congella, Sydney Road. Housebreaking - Business (13 August 2010, 04:22)
Suspects forced open the front gate and glass door. Three computer flat screens and a computer tower was stolen.
Umhlanga, Oyster Crescent. Housebreaking - Business (14 August 2010, 04:19)
Resident noticed that of jewellery and clothing was missing from inside the premises. It is unknown how suspects gained entry into premises as there were no signs of forced entry. Funny how we get these strange incidents from time to time. This is where CCTV would come in really handy. We could catch the ghost robber in the act!
Bothas Hill, Sugar Loaf Centre. Housebreaking - Business (16 August 2010, 14:23)
Suspects removed roof tiles, broke open ceiling boards and gained entry into the property. Clothes, vases, side lamps, bags, prayer lamps, duvet covers, sheets, pillows and mattress protectors were stolen. The alarm system was unarmed at the time. Stamfordhill, Silver Avenue. Housebreaking - Business (17 August 2010, 01:07)
Suspects used a concrete slab to smash the front window and gain entry into the premises. Suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cell phones and fled.
Bothas Hill, Nquma Road. Theft (13 August 2010, 03:39)
Suspects entered onto the property by going under the electric fence. Suspects then opened an unlocked window on the main building and fished out a hand bag containing a set of house keys, cash and other personal belongings. Just as much as we know that sardine season has arrived when we see the shimmering patches out at sea…so do the criminal fisherman know that an easy catch awaits when they spot an open window.
New Germany, Bradfield Place. Theft (16 August 2010, 04:28)
Suspects stole the water meter from the front of resident’s property.
SUCCESSES
Springfield Park, Ashfield Avenue (11 August 2010, 05:11)
Entry gained by forcing open front roller door. On arrival the Blue Security Reaction Officer observed two black male suspects emerging from the property carrying computers which they placed in a green VW Golf (NU 114634). When the Reaction Officer approached the vehicle the driver sped off. The Reaction Officer then gave chase and followed the suspects. The suspects were arrested when they were involved in an accident with white Mercedes Benz on the N2. Pinetown, Palm Road. Attempted Hijacking (11 August 2010, 17:16)
Resident stopped at her driveway gate to enter her premises when she was approached by 2 black males who demanded her red Chev Aveo. Resident then screamed and suspects fled without harming her.
Athlone Park, Burne Road. Housebreaking - Residential (13 August 2010, 04:13)
Suspects entered onto the store room at the rear of the premises. Store room door and gate was left unlocked. Clothing, blankets and an oven was stolen. Blue Security Reaction Officer conducted a check and recovered the oven and some of the clothing. Glenwood / Glenmore, Bartle Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (15 August 2010, 03:09)
Blue Security Reaction Officer was doing a patrol when he noticed a white Nissan Hardbody bakkie driving in the middle of the road. As he approached the vehicle a black male suspect jumped out of the driver side and fled on foot leaving the keys in the ignition. Blue Security Reaction Officer gave chase and apprehended the suspect on Brisker Road. The suspect was under the influence of alcohol and did not have a driver’s license with him. The suspect claimed that the vehicle belonged to his grandfather and that he did not steal it. Hmmm…the SAPS will soon find out whether this chap is telling the truth or not.
Kloof, Ipiti Road (16 August 2010, 11:35)
Blue Security Reaction Officer responded to break-in. A black male entered the premises and stole some items but dropped them when he fled the scene. Morningside, Florida Road. Theft (17 August 2010, 02:36)
Two black male were seen carrying a 25 litre drum filled with petrol and some aluminium fittings. Blue Security Reaction Officer approached the males and 1 of the suspects fled the scene. The other suspect was apprehended. Attempted theft where nothing was confirmed stolen: Amanzimtoti, Warner Beach (13 August 2010, 03:45)
Amanzimtoti, Zulwini Road (16 August 2010, 16:08
Assagay, Assagay Road (13 August 2010, 09:35
Durban North, Belverdere Road (12 August 2010, 03:41)
Durban North, Hypathia Road (13 August 2010, 14:53)
Durban Florida Road (14 August 2010, 06:33)
Gillitts, Edward Road (17 August 2010, 02:55)
Glenwood / Glenmore, Princess Alice Avenue (12 August 2010, 13:23
Jacobs, Voortrekker Road (13 August 2010, 14:59)
Kloof / Forest Hills, Edwin swales Drive (16 August 2010, 01:10)
Kloof / Forest Hills, Wyebank Road (14 August 2010, 02:43)
Manor Gardens, Dale Road (16 August 2010, 02:31)
Manor Gardens, Archer Crescent (15 August 2010, 13:18)
Morningside, Springfield Crescent (13 August 2010, 18:09)
New Germany, Chelsea Road (14 August 2010, 04:45)
Northdene, Byrne Crescent (16 August 2010, 08:18)
Northdene, Byrne Crescent (11 August 2010, 11:03)
Overport, Berriedale Road (14 August 2010, 23:49)
Pinetown, Ivy Road (12 August 2010, 14:15)
Pinetown, Jellicoe street (13 August 2010, 19:32)
Pinetown, Somerset Place (13 August 2010, 21:23)
Queensburgh, The Rise (14 August 2010, 15:23)
Seaview, Rossview Road (16 August 2010, 17:00)
Umbilo, Gale Street (12 August 2010, 05:22)
Umbilo, Gale Street (15 August 2010, 11:20)
Umbilo, Gale Street (15 August 2010, 19:42)
Umbilo Sydney Road (11 August 2010, 03:19)
Umgeni Park, Buttery Road (14 August 2010, 09:12)
Westmead, Sugar Bush Road (16 August 2010, 10:27)
Westville, Killan Road (14 August 2010, 17:40) Visit our security tips page on the Blue Security website.
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