BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEDING 10 MAY 2011 

What do you love about Durban? The weather is tops and the sea is warm enough to swim in all year round, and the people here are the friendliest in the whole world! And, we have another hidden treasure. From May through to December whales migrate along our coastline to breed and calf before heading back to the icy waters of the Atlantic. Whale watching charters are available in Durban and getting within 50m and sharing time with these gentle giants of the ocean is an unforgettable, soul-stirring experience.  A far cry from the often dangerous and hectic world we live in daily.

Two young women were attacked on their way to and from UKZN campus this week. It’s a really sad state of affairs that walking on our streets is such a risky business. We’d advise all people to avoid walking along streets lined with bushes where criminals can conceal themselves and to stick to routes that are highly trafficked (criminals usually don’t like being seen) and never to walk alone – there’s safety in numbers.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s been happening this week.
 
Amanzimtoti, Berrio Avenue. Hijacking – Residential (9 May 2011, 7:51:51)
The client reported  that a white Ford Fiesta was parked across the street as he drove out the driveway. Two black males armed with firearms approached the client and demanded keys to the vehicle. The suspects fled in the client’s navy Ford Bantam bakkie with a white canopy, registration ND 319763 towards Illovo township. The vehicle was not fitted with a tracking device. 

Westville, Farera Gardens.  Gatecrashing – Residential (6 May 2011, 12:04:57)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the security gate and front door. A 15”  plasma TV, and a wall safe containing two gold watches were stolen.
 
Pinetown, Caversham Road. Housebreaking – Residential (3 May 2011, 10:02:50)
A bakkie stopped outside the client’s property and that she ran inside and locked herself in a bedroom.  The suspects broke the front door and entered the premises. The client screamed and the suspects fled.
 
As brazen as these criminals can be, screams, alarm sirens and barking dogs, tend to frighten them away.

Queensburgh, Pioneer Road.  Housebreaking – Residential (3 May 2011, 11:41:09)
Suspects forced open the security gate and kicked in a stable door. A flat screen TV and jewellery were stolen. A crow bar was found outside the house. 

Pinetown, Heaton Nichols. Housebreaking – Residential (3 May 2011, 8:28:58)
Suspects broke a glass lounge door and entered the house. The rooms were ransacked and a DVD player was stolen. 

Morningside, Springfield Crescent.  Housebreaking – Residential (4 May 2011, 5:50:29)
The suspects entered the garage through an unlocked door. Slippers and CDs were stolen from a  vehicle.

Now our thief has a cozy pair of slippers and soothing sounds to come home to after a hard day’s plundering.

Crestholme, Hooper Drive. Housebreaking – Residential (4 May 2011, 8:45:41)
Suspects pushed in the burglar guard on a back window and entered the house.  A laptop, digital camera,  DVD player and  jewellery were stolen. 

Westville,  Northcliff Avenue. Housebreaking – Residential (6 May 2011, 10:51:23)
Two black males posing as municipal workers entered the premises. The suspects forced the domestic worker into a room in the house and locked her up.  The suspects fled the premises in a white Mercedes Benz.  A TV was stolen.

Sometimes  a person with malintent will pose as a municipal worker wanting to read your electricity or water meter; another time a crook may ask for a few minutes of your time to participate in a survey.  The point is, burglars and confidence tricksters don’t look like criminals, and domestic workers need to be trained not to allow anyone onto your property without your permission no matter how plausible the person may look.

Kloof,   Krantzview Road. Housebreaking – Residential (6 May 2011, 13:59:34)
A toilet window was forced open and jewellery was stolen. Do you have one or two favourite windows you like to leave open all the time? Protect these windows from criminals by investing in thick metal burglar guards and secure the guards firmly in the masonry with screws and epoxy.

Moseley Park, Rushbrook Road. Housebreaking – Residential (7 May 2011, 12:02:54)
Suspects forced open the bedroom window and pushed in the burglar guard. A flat screen TV and an AMP were stolen.
 
Glenmore,  Oliver Lea Drive. Housebreaking – Residential (7 May 2011, 17:01:26)
A window of the outbuilding was forced open and the burglar guard pushed in. Garden furniture, an umbrella, and an inflatable pool were stolen.

Moseley Park, Rushbrook Road.  Housebreaking – Residential (7 May 2011, 11:47:32)
Suspects forced open a door and entered the premises. Two speakers and a vacuum cleaner were recovered near the river.

Morningside, Earl Haig Road. Housebreaking – Business (3 May 2011, 4:12:06)
Suspects broke a glass window and entered the premises. Cigarettes valued at R10 000 were stolen. 

Chatsworth, Peak Street. Housebreaking – Business (3 May 2011, 13:51:58)
Suspects removed the glass from a front window and pushed in the burglar guard. A guitar, an AMP and a mixer valued at R10 000 were stolen.

Glenwood, Clark Road. Housebreaking – Business  (7 May 2011, 20:09:57)
Suspects removed a burglar guard and entered the premises. R 800 in cash was stolen.

Virginia Airport, Hanger One. Housebreaking – Business (7 May 2011, 10:18:24)
Cash and a computer were stolen from the premises. There was no sign of forced entry.

Crestholme, Woodlands Drive. Housebreaking – Business (8 May 2011, 16:52:18)
Suspects forced open the back door and security gates. Two computers were stolen.
 
Westmead , Richmond Road. Housebreaking – Business (8 May 2011, 19:28:17)
Suspects entered the premises through an unlocked door. Passports, a laptop and jewellery were stolen.

Glenwood / Glenmore, Bowen Avenue. Assault / Mugging (3 May 2011, 14:45:14)
A female student walking home from UKZN varsity was confronted by four black males armed with knives. A bag containing R50, a USB drive, diary and exercise books were stolen. Three of the suspects were dressed in khaki shorts and one suspect was wearing long pants.

Glenwood / Glenmore, Grosvenor Road. Assault / Mugging (9 May 2011, 7:35:52)
A black male attempted to pull a female student into the bushes while she was walking to campus. The female student fought off her attacker who escaped with her handbag.

Bellair, Sarnia Road. Theft   – Residential  (7 May 2011, 20:21:16)
Four tyres and four mag wheels were stolen from the client’s BMW that was parked in the driveway.

Westmead, Westmead Road.  Theft – Business (9 May 2011, 10:05:30)
Suspects forced open the lock on the front gate and eight truck tyres were stolen from the yard.

Glenmore, Elgie Road. Theft of Motor Vehicle - Residential (3 May 2011, 19:33:05)
A silver Toyota Run-X registration ND 440666 was stolen from the verge outside the client’s property.   The vehicle was not fitted with a tracking device.

Umbilo, Umbilo Road. Theft of a  Motor Vehicle  – Business (3 May 2011, 9:49:36)
A 1400 Nissan bakkie registration ND 162987 was stolen from outside the business. The vehicle was not fitted with a tracking device.

Glenwood / Glenmore, Frere Crescent.  Theft of a Motor Vehicle –Residential (7 May 2011, 6:21:27)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and a green Golf, registration ND 607040 was stolen from the yard. The suspects fled in a white Nissan Sentra towards Francois Road.

SUCCESSES
Westmead.  Armed Robbery – Business (5 May 2011, 11:07:37)
Five black males armed with firearms held up the staff. Cellphones, car keys, car remotes, and two vehicles were stolen from the parking lot. Both cars were recovered. 

Morningside, Esselmont Avenue. Housebreaking – Residential (3 May 2011, 11:58:11)
The resident reported that a black male opened his garage door with a key. The suspect took a bag of clothes, a bag of steel and a grinder. The suspect dropped the clothes and grinder when he was approached by the client. The suspect fled with a bag of steel. 

Morningside, Montpielier Place. Attempted Hijacking – Residential (9 May 2011, 9:49:35)
A suspect armed with a firearm and teargas attempted to hijack a female employee driving a white VW Polo at the gate to the property. The suspect fled on foot with a laptop. SAPS arrested the suspect on    Umgeni Road and the laptop was recovered.

Team work at its best! Well done all round.

Kloof, Old Main Road. Housebreaking – Business (7 May 2011, 17:43:48)
Suspects broke a back window and pushed in the burglar guard.  A printer was stolen. A DVD player was recovered near to the perimeter fence.

Summerveld.   Gatecrashing - Residential (8 May 2011, 23:36:16)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and attempted to steal an air-conditioning unit. The Reaction Officer arrived on the premises and found a white Opel Corsa bakkie parked in the driveway. The suspects shot at the reaction officer as they were fleeing. The suspects were later arrested by SAPS at a sports ground.    

A cornered criminal won’t think twice about shooting at you in an attempt to escape.

Morningside,  Florida Road. Theft – Business (8 May 2011, 6:39:50)
A patron accused another customer of stealing his cell phone. The SAPs recovered the phone and returned it to the owner.

Waterfall, District Road. Theft - Business (8 May 2011, 21:04:57)
Copper pipes stolen from the premises were recovered near to the perimeter fence.

Attempted housebreaking where nothing was confirmed stolen:
Amanzimtoti, Galleria Mall (3 May 2011, 8:33:28)
Bellair, Sarnia Road (5 May 2011, 1:54:06)
Berea, Berea Road  (7 May 2011, 4:18:29)
Durban, Gale Street  (9 May 2011, 3:33:01)
Foresthills,  Forest Drive (9 May 2011, 8:19:24)
Kloof / Forest Hills, Wuhutu Crescent (9 May 2011, 10:57:25)
Kloof, York Place (8 May 2011, 16:48:19)
Montclair, Wood Road (4 May 2011, 7:52:07)
Morningside, Ferndale Avenue (3 May 2011, 8:04:17)
Musgrave, Clyde Avenue   (6 May 2011, 4:49:56)
New Germany, Bloefield Road (5 May 2011, 12:01:41)
New Germany, Bosse Street  (3 May 2011, 10:18:18)
Pinetown, Caversham Road (3 May 2011, 2:31:53)
Pinetown, Lauth Road (3 May 2011, 18:35:26)
Umbilo, Gale Street (9 May 2011, 3:33:01)
Umbilo, Oliver Lea Drive  (4 May 2011, 14:54:24)
Umbilo, Oliver Lea Drive (7 May 2011, 15:48:15)
Westville, Herman Road (9 May 2011, 10:02:11)
Westville, Methvan Road (6 May 2011, 14:12:37)

That’s it from us for now.

Stay alert and stay safe.