BLUE ALERT FOR THE WEEK PRECEEDING 21 SEPTEMBER 2010

We’ve noticed a pretty alarming trend developing where residents have forgotten to arm alarms or lock their doors. This is Africa people! Let’s not make it any easier for the criminal element. As cliché’ as it sound, crime prevention really does start at home – you have it within your power to make a difference to the crime statistics – go on, make a little extra effort this week to reduce opportunities for would-be criminals.

Let’s take a look at what’s been happening on the crime front:

Rossburgh, Edwin Swales. Armed Robbery - Business (18 September 2010, 04:32)
Four black males in a silver A4 Audi drove into the parking area. Suspect held cashier up at gunpoint and assaulted him on the head with the butt of the firearm. Three cell phones, cash, cigarettes and a microwave were stolen.

Westville North, Jupiter Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (16 September 2010, 17:59)
Suspects derailed front driveway gate and forced open the security gate and door gaining entry. An LCD TV and jewellery were stolen.

Mayville, Buckingham Place. Gatecrashing - Residential (17 September 2010, 15:00)
Suspects forced open automatic driveway gates and entered property. Entry gained by forcing open front door and gate. A DVD player and CDs were stolen.

Glen Ashley, Marion Avenue. Gatecrashing - Residential (17 September 2010, 18:57)
Suspects derailed front driveway gate and entered onto the property. Suspects then forced open the security gate and door at the front of the building gaining entry. A plasma TV was stolen.

Virginia, Middlebrooke Avenue. Gatecrashing - Residential (17 September 2010, 19:27)
Suspects smashed open front driveway gate and gained entry by forcing open front security gate. Door was left unlocked. A plasma TV was stolen.

The alarm system was not armed and the front door was left unlocked in this incident. Makes things a lot easier for the criminals…

Durban North, Monteith Place. Gatecrashing - Residential (18 September 2010, 19:47)
Suspects derailed front driveway gate and gained entry by forcing open front door. A plasma TV was stolen.

Briardene, Marsellies Crescent. Gatecrashing - Residential (19 September 2010, 16:31)
Suspects derailed driveway gates and entered complex. Entry gained into unit by forcing open front door and security gate. Three computers were stolen.

Sunningdale, Village Way. Gatecrashing - Business (16 September 2010, 19:22)
Front driveway gate was forced open. The garage and the front door were also forced open. A safe, video camera and laptop were stolen. Suspects fled in resident’s Mercedes Benz parked on the premises.

Musgrave, Essenwood Road. Gatecrashing - Business (18 September 2010, 04:14)
Front gate was derailed and motor damaged. Entry gained by forcing open front gate and door. Computers were stolen.

Amanzimtoti, Adams Road. Hijacking (15 September 2010, 20:43)
Suspects driving a black Toyota RunX hijacked resident for his Mercedes Benz. The car was recovered when suspects drove the car to Galleria mall and crashed into a wall.

Sea Cow Lake, Peter Road. Hijacking (17 September 2010, 09:23)
Four black males arrived on premises in white Chevrolet Captiva (ND 120912). Suspects jumped out of the vehicle and approached the driver of white VW caddy 1.6 (ND 188561). One of the suspects was armed with an R5 rifle. Suspect fired a shot in the air and forced the driver out of the vehicle. Suspects fled in the VW caddy leaving the Chevrolet Captiva behind.

This type of hijacking method is known as Transport Hijacking. This is where a vehicle is taken for the purpose of using it as transport during other crimes such as drug dealing, other hijacking, burglaries, bank robberies and gun running.  The vehicles are later cannibalised for spare parts or simply dumped, as per the above incident.

New Germany, Glamis Road. Hijacking (19 September 2010, 15:10)
Complainant was approached by 4 armed black male suspects in the driveway area. He was forced out of his silver C class Mercedes Benz (Registration - CLIVE 1 ZN). Complainant was assaulted with the butt of a gun.
        
Hillcrest, Hilltop Road. Housebreaking - Residential (15 September 2010, 04:16)
Suspects jumped over the wall at the rear of the premises. Entry gained via the side double door which was left unlocked. A laptop and plasma TV were stolen.

The alarm system was not armed in the above incident.
    
Winston Park, Reservoir Road. Housebreaking - Residential (15 September 2010, 07:09)
Alarm activated at 02h24 am in the morning. Resident thought it was a false alarm, but when she got up in the morning, she found the plasma TV set was missing. Suspects had gained entry by forcing open the front door.

It’s always a great idea to ‘think positive’, but if you don’t use the tools of detection available to you, there is no point in having them at all. If your alarm sounds, be sure to check the zone and even get a Blue Security Reaction Officer to patrol the premises if need be. That’s what we’re here for!
    
Kloof, Quinton Smythe Road. Housebreaking - Residential (15 September 2010, 07:36)
Alarm system was not armed. Suspects broke office window which was not secured by burglar guards and gained entry into premises. Two laptops, a briefcase containing residents ID and passport, 2 monitors, a hard drive and camera were stolen.
    
St Winifreds, Wesse Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (15 September 2010, 22:17)
Resident forgot to lock the door and fell asleep. Two black males entered the premises and stole a cell phone, car keys and wallet containing cash and credit cards. Suspects opened the car and stole the car radio face.

Another incident that could have been avoided.
    
Bluff  / Jacobs, Junagarth Road. Housebreaking - Residential (16 September 2010, 13:29)
Blue Security Reaction Officer doing a patrol found that copper piping at the rear of premises had been stolen.
    
Hillcrest, Montrose Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (16 September 2010, 16:44)
Suspects forced open bedroom window and burglar guards gaining entry. Jewellery was stolen.
    
New Germany, Bierbaum Street. Housebreaking - Residential (16 September 2010, 16:49)
Suspects broke fences concrete slab and entered the premises. Entry was gained by forcing open study window and burglar bars. A camera and laptop were stolen.
    
Marianhill Park, Frey Road. Housebreaking - Residential (17 September 2010, 09:39)
Suspects forced open back door and security gate gaining entry. A flat screen TV, Playstation 3, decoder and pair of soccer boots were stolen.
    
Glen Ashley, Ypsilanti Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (17 September 2010, 12:51)
A black male suspect jumped over gate and entered property. Suspect entered premises through front door which was left unlocked. A handbag which contained resident's credit cards, cellphone, wallet and keys was stolen.

Oh dear…another open door inviting a criminal to come inside.
    
Hammersmith Avenue, Kenilworth Road. Housebreaking - Residential (17 September 2010, 13:54)
Suspects entered the complex and entered servant’s quarters. A DVD player was stolen.
    
Amanzimtoti, Poplar Road. Housebreaking - Residential (18 September 2010, 00:04)
Suspects entered the premises and stole a computer system. Resident was not sure if he had locked the front door. Premises does not have an alarm system installed.
    
Kloof / Forest Hills, Quinton Smythe Road. Housebreaking - Residential (18 September 2010, 03:17)
Suspects entered inside the premises via the bathroom window which was left open. A wallet and cell phone were stolen.
    
Kloof / Forest Hills, Emolweni Road. Housebreaking - Residential (18 September 2010, 03:53)
Suspects forced open rear door and entered into the premises. A plasma TV, Playstation, printer and computer system were stolen.
       
Durban North, Earlswood Place. Housebreaking - Residential (20 September 2010, 11:11)
Entry gained by forcing open garage door. A drill and weed eater were stolen.

There was no alarm protection in the garage area in the above incident.
        
Westmead, Kyalami Road. Housebreaking - Business (16 September 2010, 05:07)
Back electric fence was cut and entry gained into property by removing window pane and burglar. A computer tower and cash were stolen.
    
Kloof / Forest Hills, Margaret Crescent. Housebreaking - Business (16 September 2010, 20:14)
Two black males entered via the unlocked kitchen door. Cash was stolen.

Now this is getting insane!! Another unlocked door!
    
Berea, South Ridge Road. Housebreaking - Business (17 September 2010, 09:25)
A laptop was stolen. It is unknown how the suspect gained entry.
            
New Germany, Thole Street. Mugging – Assault (15 September 2010, 17:13)
Two black males held woman at knifepoint. Suspects took her wallet and cellphone and fled.

La Lucia, Braemar Avenue. Mugging – Assault (18 September 2010, 22:11)
Residents arrived home and entered property through driveway gate in their silver VW when they were approached by 2 black males. Suspects had jumped over the fence and were hiding on the property. One suspect was armed with a knife. A handbag containing +/- R 3000 in cash and other items was stolen.
    
Cato Manor, Dennis Shepstone Road. Theft (16 September 2010, 20:43)
Two truck batteries were stolen.
    
Durban, Umbilo Road. Theft (17 September 2010, 04:14)
Copper piping was stolen from the back of the building.

Glenwood, Macdonald Road. Theft (17 September 2010, 11:10)
Suspects jumped over fence from neighbour’s property. Two bicycles and a skateboard were stolen from the yard.
       
Kloof, Old Main Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (17 September 2010, 11:05)
A white Toyota Tazz (ND 18880) belonging to a parent that was visiting the school was stolen from the parking area.

Amanzimtoti, Almond Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle (20 September 2010, 07:29)
A blue Mazda 323 (ND 579-825) parked on the pavement outside resident’s property was stolen.
    
Pinetown, Olivier Road. Theft out of Motor Vehicle (16 September 2010, 08:23)
A white Ford Bantam bakkie parked overnight in the outside parking area was broken into. Suspects opened rear window and stole a drill, grinder and 20mm copper pipe.
    
Carrington Heights, Fielden Drive. Theft out of Motor Vehicle (17 September 2010, 21:56)
Suspects broke into blue Toyota Corolla parked on the roadside. Suspects broke the front left side passenger glass and stole a CD player facing.
    
Gillitts, Hadeda Place. Theft out of Motor Vehicle (21 September 2010, 04:32)
Suspects bent left hand side driveway gate arm and forced open driveway gate. Suspects smashed front glass of driver’s side window gaining entry into vehicle. A car radio and a pair of reading glasses was stolen.

Hmmm…glasses for a far-sighted criminal needing to read the car radio manual perhaps??

SUCCESSES

Durban North, Station Ridge Road. Housebreaking - Residential (16 September 2010, 01:00)
Entry gained by forcing open kitchen. A Bible, laptop, cosmetics and a hand bag was stolen. The handbag containing the resident’s valuables were later recovered outside.

Geez, it’s one thing to mess with the law…but a whole other thing to mess with the BIG man himself. Stealing a Bible just took it one step too far…

Bothas Hill, Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Business (19 September 2010, 02:03)
Two suspects used step ladder to reach rear window. Entry gained by smashing window and forcing open burglar guards. Suspects were seen trying to flee premises. Blue Security Reaction Officer gave chase and managed to apprehend both the suspects. Three computer towers and 2 monitors were recovered. A bolt cutter and 2 screwdrivers used by the suspects to gain entry were also recovered.

Well done to our Boys in Blue!!

Bothas Hill, Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Business (19 September 2010, 12:58)
Three computers, 3 towers and 2 monitors were recovered.

Winston Park, Jan Smuts Avenue (20 September 2010, 04:44)
Blue Security Reaction Officer approached suspects carrying suspicious black bags. Suspects dropped the items and fled into the bushes. A plasma TV and clothing wrapped in sheeting was recovered.
    
La Lucia, Armstrong Avenue (20 September 2010, 22:20)
Suspects were apprehended on Wilson Way in possession of computers and printers. The SAPS found paper in the printer with the company details and contact numbers.

Wow!! That was a stroke of luck!

Winston Park, Resevoir Road. Housebreaking - Residential (21 September 2010, 01:58)
Entry gained into property by forcing open front wooden double doors. A hi-fi, DVD player, plasma TV and speaker was stolen. Suspects were seen by jumping over property gate. All items were recovered outside the premises.

An investigation into this incident later revealed that the same suspects had attempted to break into the neighbouring property two hours earlier (See attempted theft incident below). The neighbour had requested a property inspection when the dogs started barking, it appears that when the Blue Security reaction officer investigated the complaint the suspects had jumped over the back wall and then hid in a neighbouring garden for a few hours until the “coast was clear”, after which they successfully broke into this home but were unable to escape with the stolen property.

Well done to Rover for sniffing out the bad guys!

Attempted theft where nothing was confirmed stolen:

Amanzimtoti, Lewis Drive (18 September 2010, 20:05)
Amanzimtoti, Louis Botha Road (18 September 2010, 23:15)
Ashley, Aloe Road (17 September 2010, 11:30)
Bothas Hill, Mkhize Road (20 September 2010, 11:47)
Durban Central, Somtseu Road (15 September 2010, 13:54)
Gillitts, Bluegum Crescent (18 September 2010, 03:34)
Glen Anil, Rinaldo Road (14 September 2010, 22:08)
Kloof, Edwin Swales Drive (15 September 2010, 04:25)
La Lucia, Armstrong Avenue (20 September 2010, 19:19)
Morningside, Percy Osborne Road (16 September 2010, 12:33)
New Germany, High Street (14 September 2010, 17:06)
New Germany, Jung Crescent (16 September 2010, 10:04)
New Germany, Chelsea Avenue (17 September 2010, 21:51)
Pinetown, Henwood Road (17 September 2010, 00:16)
Pinetown, Seventh Avenue (17 September 2010, 12:31)
Pinetown, Scott Road (17 September 2010, 19:28)
Sherwood, Nettleton Road (19 September 2010, 03:57)
Umbilo, Dryden Place (15 September 2010, 10:04)
Westville, Glenridge Road (18 September 2010, 13:33)
Westville, Palmiet Drive (18 September 2010, 14:18)
Winston Park, Reservoir Road (21 September 2010, 00:14)