BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS WEEK PRECEDING 10 JANUARY 2011

We start this week’s Blue Alert with what we regard as an absolute shocker – a safe containing four firearms with ammunition was stolen from a Durban residence. People - STOLEN GUNS IN CRIMINALS’ HANDS TAKE INNOCENT LIVES. At the time of writing we did not have all of the details around how this particular safe was removed from this property, but if you’re going to have a gun you have a responsibility to ensure that it is well secured in a gun safe and that the gun safe itself is well secured – what good is a safe if criminals can simply pry it from the wall and walk out with it and its contents?

Now that we got that our chest, let’s take a look at what else has been happening this past week.

Glen Hills, Tibouchina Place. Theft of firearms - Residential (10 January 2010, 14:50:28)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and front door. A safe containing four firearms, live ammunition and an unknown quantity of jewellery were stolen.

Berea, Oakleigh Drive. Hijacking - Residential (9 January 2011, 0:21:45)
Visitors of a resident were waiting at the gate to the complex when they were held up at gunpoint by six armed men who forced them out of their BMW. The suspects fled in the direction of Berea Road.

What are the odds that the firearms these criminals were using were in fact licensed to them? You got it, very slim! You could bet your bottom dollar that these were stolen firearms – therein lies the problem with the theft of firearms. Give a common old garden type housebreaker a firearm and suddenly the seriousness of his crime escalates to a new level. Today housebreaking, tomorrow hijacking and it is not to long before somebody’s loved one is fighting for their life after being shot with a stolen firearm. Not Ayoba!

Gillitts, Horseshoe Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (7 January 2011, 13:08:50)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and gained entry to a cottage on the premises through a window. A plasma screen TV, Playstation, games, an amplifier and remote were stolen.

Welwitschia Avenue, Glen Anil. Gatecrashing - Residential (7 January 2011, 19:47:24)
The driveway gate was derailed and the front door forced open. The suspects ransacked the house and attempted to steal a wall-mounted plasma screen TV which was badly damaged in the incident.

Kloof, Pioneer Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (9 January 2011, 2:28:00)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and entered the house through an open kitchen window. Two TVs, a kettle, microwave and the resident's bag were stolen.

An open window = an open invitation to criminals cruising your street looking for opportunities.  

Assagay, Cadmoor Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (11 January 2011, 4:07:11)
The driveway gate was forced open and the suspects entered the house through an open window. Car keys and the gate remote were stolen.

Another open window, another open invitation.

Botha's Hill, Rob Roy Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (6 January 2010, 16:30:00)
Suspects gained entry to a wooden cottage on the premises by smashing the kitchen window and forcing in the burglar bars. The cottage was ransacked and a Hi-Fi stolen.

Westville, Northcliffe Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (7 January 2011, 7:39:02)
There was no sign of forced entry. Gold jewellery, 2 laptops and other valuables were stolen. 

Waterfall, Sutherland Road. Housebreaking - Residential (7 January 2011, 12:43:21)
Suspects forced open the kitchen door and entered the house. It’s not clear what was taken from the house but copper pipes were stolen from the wall outside the kitchen.

Springfield Park, Peters Road. Housebreaking - Business (9 January 2011, 18:49:38)
The guard on duty reported that three black males arrived on the premises in a white Nissan with no registration plates. The suspects forced open the gate to the yard and gained entry to the premises by breaking the front door. A two and three seater leather lounge suite was stolen.

Durban, Berea Road. Housebreaking - Business (10 January 2011, 19:40:28)
Suspects cut the lock on the front security gate and forced open the door. Two computer towers and two computer screens were stolen.

Kingsburgh, Top Circle. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Residential (9 January 2011, 3:17:27)
Suspects smashed the left-hand side rear window of a Ford Bantam bakkie and stole a bottle of whiskey.
 
Leave a bottle of whiskey on your seat and see how long it takes for somebody to smash the window, not too long methinks.

Durban North, Temple Road. Theft - Residential (6 January 2011, 21:17:14)
Suspects walked on to the property which has no perimeter fence and stole the steel railing from an outdoor staircase.

Good perimeter fencing is an absolute essential in SA - without it you're wide open to trespassing, vandalism and robbery. Fencing should provide an effective barrier and limit the number of access points to your home or business.

Rossburgh, Irene Road. Theft - Business (6 January 2011, 15:07:07)
Metal sheeting was stolen from the driveway.

Durban, Noble Road. Theft - Business (10 January 2011, 6:34:05)
Suspects broke off and stole copper pipes from air conditioners outside the building.

SUCCESSES

Hillcrest, Rapson Road. Housebreaking - Residential (7 January 2011, 3:15:07)
Suspects climbed from the rear perimeter wall onto the roof and lowered themselves down onto the second storey landing and entered the house by forcing open the front door. A plasma screen TV and microwave were recovered from the garden.

Westmead, Westmead Road Unit 2. Housebreaking - Business (9 January 2011, 11:32:24)
Three black males were apprehended by a Blue Reaction Officer as they walked out of the premises carrying boxes containing detergents.   

Caught red handed by another sharp Blue Reaction Officer.

Pinetown, Old Main Road. Theft - Business (10 January 2011, 15:57:56)
Three black males entered the store.  One suspect grabbed a bottle of Hennessy Cognac from a shelf and fled while the manager apprehended the other two suspects who were arrested by SAPS.

Eish, these guys clearly like their dop and they have a taste for the good stuff, too.

Attempted theft where nothing was confirmed stolen:
Berea, Currie Road (6 January 2010, 12:44:06)
Bluff, Airlie Road (8 January 2010, 13:19:03)
Durban North, Broadway (9 January 2010, 2:29:26)
Durban, Umgeni Road (10 January 2010, 2:45:28)
Durban North, Burleigh Crescent (7 January 2010, 20:08:13)
Durban North, Sunfield Place (10 January 2010, 8:17:51)
Glenwood, Brand Road (7 January 2011, 7:53:22)
Glenwood, St John's Avenue  (7 January 2010, 6:44:42)
Glenwood, St John’s Avenue (10 January 2010, 6:54:14)
Jacobs, Brooklyn Road (8 January 2010, 13:19:03)
Manor Gardens, Princess Alice Place (10 January 2010, 14:22:12)
Morningside, Twelfth Avenue (6 January 2011, 3:35:23)
Waterfall, Mpushini Avenue (7 January 2010, 12:43:42)
Westmead, Westmead Road Unit 2 (9 January 2010, 11:32:24)
Winston Park, Van Riebeck Road (10 January 2010, 14:27:53)