BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS THE WEEK PRECEDING 19 JANUARY 2011

This past week a couple of Blue Alert readers have pointed out that we can sometimes be a bit sarcastic in our commentary... Sarcastic, Us?
Never! Oops there we go again.

OK, jokes aside, the Blue Alerts are not about “fear mongering” or making the victims of crime feel guilty about not taking the proper security measures. It is our experience that with a little common sense, a dash of awareness and appropriate security interventions, the vast majority of crimes are preventable. Our objective is to educate you about current criminal trends so that you don’t fall victim to the same type of crime as others.

One of the most important pieces of advice that we can offer – and this is appropriate in most situations - is that while you can (and certainly should) hide small objects, such as heirloom jewellery, it’s impossible to keep a thief from stealing your high value electronics once they get inside your property. A far more effective strategy is to prevent them from entering the building (home or office) in the first place and then to limit the amount of time they have inside the building. This is achieved with early detection, good quality barrier security and armed response.

With that in mind let’s take a look at what’s been going on this week (brace yourself, this one’s a whopper).

Hillcrest, Inanda Road. Armed Robbery / Theft of a motor vehicle - Residential (15 Jan 2011, 23:52:00)
Two black males armed with firearms entered the house through the unlocked front door and held up the resident at gunpoint while she was watching TV. The suspects assaulted her with the firearm and demanded cash and keys to the safe. The house was ransacked and the suspects stole a plasma TV, an unknown quantity of jewellery, cell phones and cash. The suspects fled in the resident's silver Polo Player registration NU 108363.

New Germany, Aberdeen Road. Armed Robbery - Residential (16 Jan 2011, 18:33:05)
Two black males confronted the resident while she was hanging washing on the line. One of the suspects produced a fire arm and forced her into the house and demanded cash. The suspects fled in an unknown direction with stolen cash.

Durban North, Margaret Maytom Avenue. Armed Robbery - Business (14 Jan 2011, 16:05:38)
Three men armed with firearms arrived on the premises in an Audi A3, registration 30566, and held up four club members. The suspects robbed them of handbags, jewellery, cash and sporting equipment before fleeing in an unknown direction.

Last week we reported the theft of four firearms from a residential robbery. This week in three separate incidents, six innocent members of the public were terrorised by armed thugs. Bet your life on it that these firearms were stolen.

Durban North, Ellis Park Drive. Gatecrashing - Residential (16 Jan 2011, 14:59:37)
Suspects forced open the driveway gates and front door and kicked in the security gate. An LCD TV, kettle, microwave and whiskey were stolen.

Westville North, Methvan Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (19 Jan 2010, 9:55:16)
Suspects removed the driveway gate motor and forced open the front door. A microwave oven, DVD player and an unknown quantity of jewellery were stolen.

Montclair, Wood Road. Armed Robbery - Business (17 Jan 2010, 7:15:05)
Staff were opening the business and were confronted by three black males armed with firearms. The suspects assaulted a staff member and stole an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing.

Businesses (especially those who deal in cash) are most vulnerable during opening and closing times. It makes sense to train your staff to be on the alert during these times.

Assagay, Cadmoor Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 Jan 2011,4:15:37)
Suspects forced open a front window and a laptop was stolen.

Pinetown, Mariannhill Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 Jan 2011,8:21:09)
Suspects forced open an unsecured dining-room window. A DVD and CD player were stolen.

Amanzimtoti, Adams Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 Jan 2011, 10:26:43)
Suspects forced open a dining-room window and pushed in the burglar guard. A PlayStation was stolen.

Carrington Heights, Gweneth Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 Jan 2011, 13:21:13)
Suspects cut the lock on the driveway gate and forced open the front door. A flatscreen TV and a collection of watches were stolen.

Kloof, Wyebank Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 Jan 2011, 15:07:06)
Suspects forced open a window and pushed in the burglar guard. A flatscreen TV, a home theatre system and a microwave oven were stolen.

Ping! Microwave popcorn and movies go together like bacon and eggs. There is a definite trend here with the theft of both the TV and the Microwave oven occurring in a number of separate incidents.

Glenmore, Wanless Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 Jan 2010, 15:18:05)
Suspects forced open the sliding door to the lounge. A computer tower, laptop and PlayStation were stolen.

Westville, Protea Place. Housebreaking - Residential (13 Jan 2011, 8:34:16)
Tools and an extension cord were stolen from the unlocked garage. The suspects also cut the lawnmower cable.

Botha's Hill, Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Residential (13 Jan 2011, 7:43:46)
Suspects entered a cottage on the premises by forcing open the front door. Linen, three mattresses, a bar fridge, a two-plate stove, microwave oven, an ironing board, table and cutlery were stolen.

Sound like these crooks were kitting out their own cottage.

Pinelands, Lester Road. Housebreaking - Residential (13 Jan 2010, 14:31:59)
Suspects forced open the latch on a front window, removed the window frame and forced in the burglar guards. Three bedrooms were ransacked and an unknown quantity of jewellery and cell phones were stolen.

Amanzimtoti, Adams Road. Housebreaking - Residential (13 Jan 2010, 22:46:27)
Suspects forced open a front sliding door and stole a handbag from the diningroom table. R250 in cash was stolen. The bag containing an ID book and passport was recovered from the garden.

Kloof / Forest Hills, Valley Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (14 Jan 2011, 13:22:34)
Suspects forced open the front door and entered the house. Two laptops, a video camera and a pair of takkies were stolen.

Coronation Road, Essenwood. Housebreaking - Residential (15 Jan 2011, 19:20:39)
Suspects forced open the pedestrian gate and entered the premises. The front door was forced open and a plasma screen TV was stolen.

Pinetown, Frara Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (15 Jan 2010, 20:30:06)
Suspects broke the lock on the front security gate and forced open the front door. A plasma screen TV, Jewellery and other valuables were stolen.

Gillitts, Neville Road. Housebreaking - Residential (15 Jan 2011, 21:34:01)
Suspects used a felled tree leaning against the front fence to enter the property. They unscrewed the burglar bars and used a table to climb through the open kitchen window. A laptop, video camera, plasma screen TV and an MP4 player were stolen.

Just goes to show how alert criminals are to opportunities to gain entry to your premises. Take a walk around your premises and try to get a criminals point of view – trees close to a fence = an opportunity, a table near a window = an opportunity and so on. You might get away with one or two security slip ups but if you keep repeating them you are attracting trouble.

Durban North, Lansdowne Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential (15 Jan 2011, 14:30:43)
The resident went out without arming the alarm and left two unsecured windows open. He noticed his laptop missing from the lounge when he returned home.

<You know what we want to say so insert sarcastic comment here!>

Kloof, Jameson Terrace. Housebreaking - Residential (15 Jan 2011, 8:55:20)
The suspects used a ladder to climb up to a balcony and force open a bedroom door. A bar fridge, curtains and curtain rails, linen and an unknown quantity of valuables were stolen.

Glenwood, Nicholson Road. Housebreaking - Residential (16 Jan 2011,13:51:48)
Suspects forced open a window and stole an unknown quantity of valuables.

Bellair, Cliffview Road. Housebreaking - Residential (16 Jan 2011, 11:28:44)
Suspects broke a side window and forced in the burglar guard. A cell phone and jewellery were stolen.

Forest Hills, Central Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (16 Jan 2011, 12:54:13)
Suspects opened the front door and forced in the security gate. It is unsure what was stolen at the time.

Winston Park, Cunningham Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (16 Jan 2011, 15:30:57)
Suspects forced open the front door and security gate. A 42" flat screen TV, iPOD docking station and jewellery were stolen.

Avoca, Columbine Close. Housebreaking - Business (13 Jan 2011, 6:38:38)
There was no sign of forced entry. A computer tower, LCD monitor and a computer server were stolen.

Durban Central, Ordnance / Old Fort Roads. Housebreaking - Business (15 Jan 2011, 8:15:23)
A Reaction Officer on patrol noticed that a side window had been smashed and alerted the business. Two computer screens had been stolen.

Westmead, Swanfield Road. Housebreaking - Business (15 Jan 2010, 16:36:54)
Suspects gained entry to the premises by removing an air-conditioning unit from the wall. A photocopy machine was stolen.

Kloof, Dan Pienaar Road. Theft - Business (18 Jan 2010, 6:36:31)
Suspects forced open the gate and a container door. Tools and other valuables were stolen.

Northdene, Campbell Crescent. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Residential (14 Jan 2011, 5:54:32)

Suspects smashed the rear window of a Toyota Tazz parked in the resident's garden. Stereo and speakers were stolen.

Morningside, Florida Road. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Business (14 Jan 2010, 15:08:18)
A Garmin, CDs and R100 in cash was stolen out of a Colt Mitsubishi.

Morningside, Windermere Road. Theft - Business (13 Jan 2011, 6:38:42)
Copper pipes were stolen from the premises.

Durban, Umgeni Road. Robbery - Business (19 Jan 2010, 10:54:47)
A black male walked onto the premises and demanded the victim’s handbag and cell phone. The bag contained a R1 000 cash and an identity document.

SUCCESSES

Amanzimtoti, Adams Road. Housebreaking - Residential (13 Jan 2010 22:46:27)
Suspects forced open a front sliding door and stole a handbag from the dining-room table. R250 in cash was stolen. The bag containing an ID book and passport was recovered from the garden.

Gillitts, Stockville Road. Theft out of a motor vehicle - Residential(14 Jan 2011, 2:22:28)
Suspects opened the unlocked garage door and took a bag containing books out of the car. The suspects dropped the books before fleeing.

Botha's Hill, Nquma Road. Housebreaking – Residential (17 Jan 2011,4:42:28)
The resident was woken up by the suspect attempting to break down an internal security gate protecting the sleeping area. The suspect was armed but fled from the scene when he saw the resident.

Smart-resident-that-has-implemented-security advice = 1, Reprobate-wannabe-thief = 0 – that’s what we like to see.

Attempted theft where nothing was confirmed stolen:
Amanzimtoti, Tecoma Place (12 Jan 2011, 10:09:19)
Briardene, Everest Road (13 Jan 2011, 23:30:27)
Botha's Hill, Nquma Road (17 Jan 2011, 4:42:28)
Glenwood / Glenmore, Clark Road (14 Jan 2011, 22:29:58)
Hillcrest, Carol Avenue (19 Jan 2010, 10:17:12)
Kloof, Dan Pienaar Road (13 Jan 2011, 6:20:39)
Kloof/ Forest Hills, Krantzview Close (14 Jan 2011, 12:32:10)
New Germany, Bosse Street (12 Jan 2011, 10:15:49)
Westville, Broadway (15 Jan 2011, 11:55:10)