BLUE ALERT # 142 FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEDING 5 APRIL 2011 

The gentle soaking rains of the past few days have brought a welcome relief from the summer heat and some much-needed water before the dry winter season sets in.   We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect end to a perfect summer! And, there’s more good news. Our Reaction Officers have apprehended a number of suspects this week, sending a clear message to the criminal element that Blue means business and is tough on crime and criminals.  Blue salutes our determined Reaction Officers for their excellent work!

 Let’s take a closer look at what’s been happening this week.

Umbilo, Gadshill Place. Hijacking (29 March 2011, 16:31:50)
The resident reports that two black males approached her as she was walking from the driveway to the house. A suspect produced a firearm and demanded the car keys. The suspects fled with the house keys in the client’s metallic blue Toyota Corolla, registration ND 661 115.
 
Glen Hills, Harrison Drive. Hijacking - Residential (30 March 2011, 18:11:00)
A visitor to the residence was approached by two black males as she was entering the property. The suspects produced a firearm and demanded the car keys. The suspects pushed the owner of the vehicle out of her car and fled in her silver VW Polo, registration NR29566.

Pinetown, Dinkelman Road. Hijacking - Business (30 March 2011, 17:16:34)
A staff member was approached in the parking lot by four black men.  The suspects produced a firearm and demanded keys to the staff member’s vehicle. The suspects fled in an unknown direction in a white Mercedes Compressor, registration Khedun 3 ZN.

As the armed robberies and hijackings seem to be on the increase and we’d hate you to become the next victim, be very vigilant when approaching your car and when you enter or leave your premises.  

Gillitts, Norton Avenue. Gatecrashing / Assault - Residential (31 March 2011, 10:00:03)
The driveway gate and front door were forced open. The suspects assaulted and tied up the maid and ransacked the house.  It was not known at the time what was stolen.

Glenmore, Grosvenor Road. Mugging / Assault - Residential (30 March 2011, 10:40:14)
A resident was assaulted by a black male while she was walking on the street. The suspect stole her purse containing bank cards and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Northdene, Campbell Crescent. Gatecrashing - Residential (31 March 2011, 12:19:21)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and broke the glass on the front door. A TV and an Xbox were stolen.

Yellowwood Park, Starling Avenue. Gatecrashing - Residential (1 April 2011, 12:30:33)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and front door. An unknown quantity of jewellery was stolen.

Pinetown, Maurice Nicholas Road. Housebreaking - Residential (29 March 2011, 7:32:52)
Suspects pushed in the burglar bars of a bathroom window. Two laptops, a PlayStation, a cell phone and a watch were stolen.

Bluff, Loundon Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (29 March 2011, 12:40:20)
The back door was forced open and a safe was stolen.

Greenwood Park, Banbury Road. Housebreaking - Residential (29 March 2011, 13:14:33)
Suspects forced open the front door and ransacked the main bedroom and lounge. A laptop and an unknown quantity of jewellery were stolen.

Padfield Park, Beare Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (29 March 2011, 16:20:56)
Suspects entered the house through a bedroom window. A camera, cell phone, a diamond ring and a watch were stolen.

Forest Hills, Watsonia Place. Housebreaking - Residential (30 March 2011, 8:10:45)
Suspects forced open the front door to a cottage on the premises.  A microwave oven, fridge and TV were stolen.

Hillcrest, Leslie Road. Housebreaking - Residential (30 March 2011, 13:09:37)
Suspects broke a window and entered the residence. A laptop was stolen.

Northdene, Rapson Road. Housebreaking - Residential (30 March 2011, 14:12:25)
Suspects forced open the lounge door and security gate. A PlayStation, an Xbox, and a laptop were stolen.

Morningside, Nuttall Gardens. Housebreaking - Residential (30 March 2011, 14:33:44)
Suspects forced open the front door and ransacked the house. It was not known at the time what was stolen.

Morningside, Voysey Road. Housebreaking - Residential (31 March 2011, 2:08:26)
Suspects gained entry to the house through an upper level open, unsecured window. A wallet containing credit cards, a watch, and a cell phone were stolen. The alarm was not armed at the time.

Kloof / Forest Hills, Igwababa Road. Housebreaking - Residential (31 March 2011, 3:16:05)
Suspects broke a front window and entered the house. A bag was stolen. The window was not protected by the alarm.

Assagay, Cadmoor Road. Housebreaking - Residential (31 March 2011, 5:03:45)
Suspects broke a window and fished out the key to the front door through the window.  A DVD and a PlayStation were stolen.

La Lucia, Braemar Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (31 March 2011, 14:16:45)
Suspects broke the wood panels on the back door and ransacked the house. It was not known at the time what was stolen.

Kloof / Forest Hills, Kloof Park. Housebreaking – Residential (31 March 2011, 1:21:42)
Suspects pushed in an unprotected window. A laptop was stolen.

Westville, Duncan Drive. Attempted Housebreaking - Residential (1 April 2011, 4:42:23)
Suspects cut through the barbed wire fence at the back of the premises. The perimeter beams activated and the suspects fled.

Waterfall, Ntintini Place. Housebreaking - Residential (1 April 2011, 14:28:15)
Suspects cut the lock on the front gate and forced open the front door. A camera and an Xbox were stolen.

Durban North, Worman Place. Housebreaking - Residential (1 April 2011, 16:18:40)
Suspects forced open a bedroom window at the back of the house and pushed in the burglar bars. A DVD player and an unknown quantity of jewellery were stolen from the bedroom. The suspects then broke a window to the bar area and a CD player was stolen.

Springfield Park, Quarry Road. Housebreaking - Residential (2 April 2011, 7:14:00)
Suspects forced open the back door to the kitchen and entered the house. A laptop, R1 200 in cash and an unknown quantity of clothing were stolen.

Reservoir Hills, Mountbatten Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (2 April 2011, 19:08:32)
Suspects broke an unprotected bedroom window and entered the premises. Cell phones and jewellery were stolen.

Assagay, Gevers Road. Housebreaking - Residential (3 April 2011, 4:27:43)
The suspects forced open a wooden pedestrian door to the garage. The suspects switched off the electrical mains and forced open a door leading from the garage to the kitchen. Two cell phones, two laptops, a digital camera, car keys, house keys and a wallet containing credit cards, and  passports were stolen. The suspects fled when the alarm activated.

Hillary, Bankhead Road. Housebreaking - Residential (3 April 2011, 19:50:34)
Suspects removed the glass from the front door and entered the house. A laptop, flat screen TV, cell phones and jewellery were stolen.

Mosley Park, Saddle Road. Housebreaking - Residential (4 April 2011, 11:00:50)
An unprotected window was broken and a plasma screen TV was stolen.

Westville, Beverley Road. Housebreaking - Residential (4 April 2011, 12:20:30)
A window to the study was forced open and the burglar guard pushed in. A computer was stolen.

Berea, Musgrave Road. Housebreaking - Residential (4 April 2011, 13:55:13)
Suspects removed a window latch and entered the main bedroom. A TV was stolen.

The first step is to limit your chances of being burgled and to "harden the target" – that is, your home and yard. Remember a burglar will bypass your house or apartment if it requires too much effort or more skill and tools than they possess.

Durban Central, Hermitage Lane. Housebreaking - Business (31 March 2011, 0:00:05)
Suspects broke an unprotected glass front door and a monitor was stolen.

Durban, Umbilo Road. Housebreaking - Business (1 April 2011, 5:30:28)
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door. A computer monitor was stolen.

Seaview, Coedmore Road. Housebreaking - Business (2 April 2011, 2:48:03)
Suspects broke a window and entered the premises. A laptop was stolen. A computer was recovered outside the premises. 

Umbilo, Umbilo Road. Housebreaking - Business (4 April 2011, 7:04:10)
Suspects forced open a wooden door and an internal security gate. A computer and R2 500 in cash were stolen.

Westmead, Swanfield Road. Housebreaking - Business (4 April 2011, 7:14:50)
Suspects entered the premises through the roof. Safety boots and an unknown quantity of power tools were stolen.

Stamfordhill, Churchill Road. Housebreaking - Business (4 April 2011, 8:23:09)
Suspects forced open the lock on the main entrance door and two computers were stolen.

Riverhorse, Imvubu Park Place. Theft - Business (31 March 2011, 11:42:46)
The client reported that a black male walked into the premises posing as a client.  The suspect stole two cell phones and a handbag containing cash from an office and then asked for a lift from a distributor on the premises.

The brazenness of this criminal is breathtaking.

Westville, Duncan Drive. Gatecrashing / Attempted Housebreaking - Residential (29 March 2011, 9:12:37)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and attempted to force open a security gate. The noise alerted the resident who pressed the panic button and the suspects fled.

Hillcrest, Northern Avenue. Gatecrashing / Attempted Housebreaking - Residential (1 April 2011, 14:18:45)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and drove onto the property in a blue VW Polo. The suspects fled when the resident screamed.

Westville, Tweed Road. Attempted Theft - Residential (31 March 2011, 3:22:30)
Suspects jumped over the fence at the back of the property and attempted to fish out items from the house through an open window with a pool pole. The suspects fled when the reaction officer arrived.

SUCCESSES

Pinetown, Glenugie Road. Housebreaking - Residential (3 April 2011, 12:11:25)
The suspect broke the glass and door handle on a back door. The alarm activated and the suspect fled as the Reaction Officer arrived.  The Reaction Officer gave chase and the suspect was apprehended and arrested by SAPS.

Pinetown, Nipper Road. Housebreaking - Business (30 March, 18:46:20)
Suspects climbed over the electric fence using a ladder and entered the unit through the roof.   Twenty boxes of glassware were recovered from nearby bushes.

New Germany, Louisa Place. Theft - Residential (30 March 2011, 7:17:55)
The resident reported that two suspects were attempting to steal underground copper cables. The  suspects were arrested by SAPS.

Queensburgh, Coronation Road. Theft - Business (3 April 2011, 16:06:10)
A suspect was caught outside the premises stealing plastic dishes. The suspect was arrested by SAPS. 

Assagay, Gevers Road. Attempted Housebreaking - Residential (30 March 2011, 0:58:34)
Suspects cut a hole in the fence and entered the yard. Two suspects armed with knives were found hiding  in the yard.  One suspect advanced towards the Reaction Officer who fired a shot at the ground. The suspects were apprehended and arrested by SAPS.

Durban North, Troon Place. Theft - Residential (4 April 2011, 10:44:09)
Suspects broke a garage window and two bicycles were stolen. A neighbour recovered both the bicycles.

Amanzimtoti, Commercial Road. Theft  (2 April 2011, 10:51:18)
A suspect stole a cell phone from a woman in the Civic Centre Park. Members of the public gave chase and a Blue Reaction Officer assisted in apprehending the suspect. The suspect was arrested by SAPS and the cell phone was recovered.

Well done to these good citizens and the Blue Security Reaction Officer for bringing this miscreant to book.   

Chatsworth, Lenny Naidoo Drive. Trespassing - Residential (2 April 2011, 8:29:00)
A suspect ran out the client’s yard as the Reaction Officer arrived on the premises. The Reaction Officer gave chase and apprehended the suspect. The suspect was arrested by SAPS.

Housebreaking where nothing was confirmed stolen:
Gillitts, Starling Place (5 April 2011, 2:54:56)
Glen Anil, Highdale Road (1 April 2011, 1:47:25)
Kloof, Fairview Road (4 April 2011, 18:03:00)
Kloof / Forest Hills, Kloof Park (31 March 2011, 0:36:22)
Kloof, Moorlands Road (29 March 2011, 11:40:26)
Morningside, Poplar Road (1 April 2011, 1:21:08)
Umbilo, Umbilo Road (31 March 2011, 20:38:09)
Westmead, Swanfield Road (1 April 2011, 7:51:59)
Windermere, Claribel Road (2 April 2011, 13:40:29)

That’s it from us for now. Stay alert and stay safe.

The Blue Alert Team.