BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEDING 29 DECEMBER 2010

Whoosh, that was 2010 folks, whizzing by in a flash, done and dusted. And, what a year it was! None of us will forget in a hurry the triumph of hosting a hugely successful and almost incident-free World Cup. Just shows what can be done when there's political will and we all pull together. The lesson from 2010 must be that with optimism, commitment and team work anything is possible. As we welcome in 2011, we hope you'll continue to be behind our team as we work together with renewed commitment to reduce crime and increase safety. The Blue Alert team wishes all of our valued customers a joyous, prosperous and peaceful 2011.

Let's take a look at what's been going on this week.

Glenashley, Newport Avenue. Armed robbery - Business (21 December 2010, 19:45:18)
Five men armed with firearms forced their way into the premises and held up two staff members. Cash, alcohol, cigarettes and 2 cell phones were stolen. The suspects fled in an unknown direction.

A staggering 97 percent of intruders are armed which means the most important thing to do in an armed robbery situation is to remain calm. Give the robbers what they want so they disappear quickly and avoid staring at them. After this traumatic encounter, the second hit in as many weeks, this business may need to take a look at beefing up security for the sake of its staff and customers.

Morningside, Earl Haig Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (26 December 2010, 19:41:40)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the security gate and front door. Two flat screen TVs were stolen.

Glenwood, Ebor Avenue. Gatecrashing - Residential (26 December 2010, 11:23:05)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and gained entry to the house by forcing open a window. The bedrooms were ransacked. It was not clear at the time what was taken.

Caversham Glen, Flatcrown Road. Housebreaking - Residential (21 December 2010, 19:13:36)
Suspects cut the lock on a security gate and kicked down the front door. A TV and laptop were stolen.

Pinetown, Roosevelt Road. Housebreaking - Residential (22 December 2010, 06:00:54)
A kitchen window was forced open and the burglar bars pushed in. A laptop, DVD player and other valuables were stolen.

Forest Hills, Ridge Road. Housebreaking - Residential (22 December 2010, 11:17:02)
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door. A TV was stolen.

Sarnia, Elm Road. Housebreaking - Residential (22 December 2010, 11:28:30)
Suspects removed a security gate from its hinges and forced open the front door. A flat screen TV was stolen.

New Germany, Glamis Road. Housebreaking - Residential (24 December 2010, 20:27:31)
Suspects climbed onto a balcony, forcing open a bathroom window and pushing in the burglar bars. An empty safe was stolen.

We know cat burglars defy gravity but these polukers defy logic. A lot of effort expended to nab an empty safe.

Waterfall, Fischer Road. Housebreaking - Business (21 December 2010, 21:16:28)
Suspects kicked open the kitchen door to the premises and a fridge was stolen.

I expect these fridge bandits will be stealing the electricity for it as well!

Umbilo, Alpha Crescent. Housebreaking - Business (23 December 2010, 06:30:12)
Suspects gained entry to the premises by breaking the asbestos roof of the workshop and entering an office. The premises were ransacked and 3 flat screen computer monitors were stolen.

Morningside, Hampden Road. Theft - Business (22 December 2010, 05:52:35)
A staff member was held up at gunpoint by black males who stole a trailer from the premises.

Where will we be if they ever get horses?

Morningside, Florida Road. Theft - Business (26 December 2010, 21:44:03)
A black male was captured on CCTV footage stealing a cell phone from a patron's handbag while she was seated at a table outside the restaurant. The suspect fled on foot.

Amanzimtoti, Lewis Road. Housebreaking - Business (23 December 2010, 08:11:09)
Suspect broke the lock on an outside storeroom and a grass cutter and children's bicycles were stolen.

Bellair, Kenmare Road. Theft / attempted housebreaking - Residential (24 December 2010, 09:00:53)
Copper piping was broken off and stolen from a back wall. The suspects removed tiles from the garage roof but did not gain entry.

Pinetown, Union Lane. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Residential (26 December 2010, 17:58:56)
Suspects forced open the boot of a silver Audi 1.8 turbo parked in the owner's yard and stole a spare tyre and the front grill of the vehicle.

Seeing the auto-thieves couldn’t steal the car, they settled for a spare tyre and accessories – all prize items at the chop shop.

Kloof, Cypress Place. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Residential (26 December 2010, 07:07:11)
Suspects jumped over the fence and forced open the drivers' doors of a silver Opel Corsa bakkie and a blue City Golf parked in the yard. The suspects disconnected the battery terminals on the Opel Corsa bakkie and an iPod, 4 17" wheel rims, a GPS, and sunglasses were stolen from the bakkie. Nothing was taken from the City Golf.

Botha's Hill, Old Main Road. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Residential (26 December 2010, 13:06:16)
The rear window of a white Nissan 4X4 Double Cab was smashed and a laptop was stolen from the vehicle.

Did you notice that theft out of motor vehicles appears to be on the increase? Think about it, schools out and there are plenty of teens / young adults roaming the streets with time on their hands and ill intentions on their minds. For this bunch of wannabe criminals Theft out of Motor Vehicle is the easiest crime to get started with.

Amanzimtoti, Station Road. Mugging - Residential (26 December 2010, 16:02:43)
Three young black males robbed a mother and daughter of their cell phones and cash. The suspects fled towards Oppenheimer Road.
 
Step two in the life of a typical criminal! After successfully breaking into a few cars these miscreants have moved on to mugging soft targets. The next step for these young delinquents is to become more brazen and graduate to crimes like housebreaking and then armed robbery.

SUCCESSES

Durban North, Monteith Place. Housebreaking - Business. (24 December 2010, 05:20:04)
Suspects forced open a bedroom and lounge windows and two TVs were stolen.

At the sight of the Blue Security Officer who arrived at the scene in double quick time, these okes high tailed it without the TVs, which were recovered at the corner of Grosvenor Road and Monteith Place.

Durban, Gale Street. Housebreaking - Business (25 December 2010, 11:05:48)
Glass was removed from a front window and the burglar guards forced in. A drill, screwdriver and modem were stolen. The modem was recovered outside the front door.

I guess there’s not much use for a modem in a burglary.

Sherwood, Wattle Grove. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Residential (28 December 2010, 03:17:07)
A black male jumped over the front gate to the complex and broke into a white VW bakkie. A bag of tools and a car radio were stolen. The items were recovered when the suspect dropped them while climbing over the gate and fleeing on foot.

Queensburgh, Philips Road. Trespassing - Residential (26 December 2010, 01:46:52)
A client reported that trespassers were on his property. A Blue Security Officer apprehended a coloured male at the back of the property and SAPS arrested him.

Yes! Well done to our Blue Security Officer for apprehending this menace who had no business being on the property in the first place.

Attempted theft where nothing was confirmed stolen:
Berea, Currie Road Unit 2 (26 December 2010, 02:56:42)
Durban North, Umhlanga Rocks Drive (27 December 2010, 22:06:37)
Escombe, Ladd Road (26 December 2010, 13:38:48)
Glen Anil, Columbine Place (26 December 2010, 20:27:36)
Glenmore, River Drive (23 December 2010, 08:51:43)
Kloof, Ukozi Road (22 December 2010, 02:10:59)
New Germany, Bosse Street (21 December 2010, 15:48:00)
New Germany, Bosse Street (25 December 2010, 14:23:50)
New Germany, Oberreuter Street (25 December 2010, 16:33:52)
Morningside, Mansfield Road (25 December 2010, 07:46:37)
Pinetown, Collington Crescent (23 December 2010, 18:07:31)
Pinetown, Old Main Road (27 December 2010, 14:01:49)
Westmead, Mahogany Road (25 December 2010, 01:20:16)