Westville, Revenge Road.  Armed Robbery - Residential (01 August 2011, 11:11:05) 
Four suspects armed with firearms arrived on the property in a black VW Jetta, registration number NJ 31117.The suspects held up the maid as she was returning from the washing line to the house and took her to the main bedroom where they demanded to know where the safe was.  A laptop, an external hard drive, four LCD TVs and a safe containing a 9mm firearm, jewellery, two video cameras and a digital camera were stolen. 

We’re up to 13 private firearms stolen this year.  A number of armed robberies have been reported this week – and you can be sure that the weapon stolen from this house will be used to threaten or kill innocent people.  We’ve said before, and we’ll say it again: you will be surprised at how quickly and easily a determined criminal is able to remove a wall safe. Perhaps it’s time you cast another eye over your firearm safe and consider how you could make it more difficult for a criminal to remove.

One way to make a safe more difficult to steal is to rawl bolt and epoxy it to a concrete floor. It also helps if the safe is in an “enclosed” area so that the thieves can’t get at it with a hammer or crow bar. By far the safest option is to have the safe built into the wall or sunk into the floor.

Kloof, Usavalo Road. Armed Robbery - Residential  (29 July 2011, 1:41:00) 
Three males armed with firearms forced open a door and entered the premises. The suspects tied up the resident and locked her in the bathroom. The resident managed to free herself and press the panic alarm. A DVD player, jewellery, a Kruger Rand and the resident's BMW were stolen.

It is a tragedy that this resident had to go through this ordeal, however it does raise an interesting point. We have heard of numerous instances where residents were locked in the bathroom by suspects who then proceeded to ransack the house at their leisure. Our advice is to invest in a remote panic button that you can store away in the bathroom for use in such an event. (Just remember to keep it in a waterproof container such as a sealed plastic bag so as to avoid corrosion and to test it regularly.)

Mayville, Bellair Road.  Armed Robbery – Business (30 July 2011, 12:56:28)  
Three suspects armed with a firearm walked into the premises and held up the staff. The suspects demanded cash and fled on foot. 

Berea, Berea Road. Armed Robbery – Business (01 August 2011, 5:34:20) 
Four suspects armed with firearms forced open the front door. A flat screen TV was stolen.

Chatsworth, Tranquil Street. Armed Robbery – Business (01 August 2011, 6:01:38)   
Six suspects armed with firearms held up the manager and staff on the premises. The suspects assaulted the manager and demanded cash. The suspects stole cash and fled in a white company bakkie registration number ND 11217. 

5 armed robberies in a few days…and guess where the guns for these crimes came from??? Eish folks, we really need to tighten up when it comes to gun safety. Also, cash is king to criminals. How many businesses operate at high risk because they don’t have adequate security systems and procedures in place? Try not hold large amounts of cash on the premises, and if you haven’t already, install CCTV cameras which not only act as a deterrent but provide footage admissible in court.

Sherwood, Cullingwood Road. Hijacking – Residential  (27 July 2011, 18:33:57)
The resident arrived home and left his vehicle idling in the driveway to open the gate.  Two black males jumped into the vehicle and fled in the resident's black Golf 6 GTI, registration number ND 6754.

Durban North, Glenmore Crescent. Hijacking – Residential  (30 July 2011, 10:38:00) 
The resident left her vehicle parked on the pavement while she attempted to close a faulty driveway gate. On returning to her vehicle the resident noticed four armed males in a vehicle heading straight towards her. The resident panicked and left her vehicle with her possessions in it and walked away. The suspects drove off in the resident's blue BMW 2009 model, registration number ND 460-996. 

Both incidents above present a very valid argument for automated gates!  

Seaview, Monument Road. Gatecrashing - Residential  (01 August 2011, 11:03:14) 
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the security gate and front door. A flat screen TV was stolen.

Gillitts, Elizabeth Drive.  Gatecrashing - Residential  (30 July 2011, 12:27:23)
Two suspects forced open the driveway gate and a back door and entered the premises. Both suspects assaulted the domestic worker and stole a plasma screen TV. The suspects fled in a white VW Polo.

Hillcrest, Montrose Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential  (31 July 2011, 2:23:10) 
Suspects bent the bars on the driveway gate and slipped through the gate onto the premises. The front door was kicked down and a laptop was stolen. 

Glenwood,  Brand Road.  Gatecrashing - Business (27 July 2011, 5:31:46)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and the front door. Two computers were stolen

It’s a good idea to install a detection device on your gate that will alert you the moment somebody attempts to force the gate open, this can be as simple as an industrial magnetic contact or more sophisticated strip beams.   Click here for our special offer on strip beams.

Pinetown, Frara Drive.Housebreaking - Residential  (31 July 2011, 14:24:59)
Suspects forced open the front door and cash and jewellery were stolen. 

New Germany,  Blair Athol Road.   Housebreaking - Residential  (31 July 2011, 20:12:07) 
Suspects forced open a window and bent the burglar guard. Two computers and a laptop were stolen.

Kloof, Emolweni Road. Housebreaking - Residential (01 August 2011, 13:49:18)  
Suspects pushed in the burglar guard of an open bedroom window. Jewellery was stolen. 

Glenwood,  Moore Road. Housebreaking - Business  (27 July 2011, 21:43:45)
The front door was forced open and two computers were stolen. A computer screen was found outside the premises. 
 
Greyville, First Avenue. Housebreaking – Business (30 July 2011, 8:09:43)
Suspects entered the premises through the roof and ransacked the offices. Computers were stolen.

Pinetown, Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Business  (02 August 2011, 0:31:17)   
Four suspects armed with firearms jumped over the fence and tied up a guard. The suspects broke a window and entered the premises. Eight computers were stolen.

Morningside, Rapson Road. Theft of a Motor Vehicle – Residential (27 July 2011, 19:21:11) 
A visitor's vehicle parked on the pavement was stolen.

Sunningdale,  Fernlea Road. Theft of a Motor Vehicle – Residential (01 August 2011, 18:35:41) 
A red Uno Mia registration number ND 616196 was stolen from the verge outside the residence. 

Morningside , Florida Road. Theft of a Motor Vehicle - Business  (28 July 2011, 17:04:38)
A Tata Indica, registration number ND 100699 was stolen from the parking lot of the premises.

Pinetown, Crompton Street.  Theft – Business  (30 July 2011, 7:50:39)
Suspects cut the locks on the front driveway gate and a roller shutter door and used a drum to climb up to a window and enter the premises.  A BMW, cash and computers were stolen.

Bluff, Edwin Swales. Theft of a Motor Vehicle – Business (31 July 2011, 13:55:02)
A 1995, green 1.6 Toyota Corolla registration number ND 484-401 1995 was stolen from the parking lot of the business premises. 

“Has anybody seen my car?   Has anybody seen my car? I left it for half a minute, and while I wasn't looking, he jumped and took it!” The next time these stolen vehicles will most likely be spotted is in their new lives as get-away cars in a hijacking or armed robbery. 
(with apologies to  “Has anybody seen my mouse?”)

Summerveld, Paddock Road. Theft – Residential  (27 July 2011, 16:22:14)
A bike was stolen from the premises. 

Bikes seem to be the preferred getaway vehicles among the country folks …

Claire Estate, O'Flaherty Road.   Theft  - Residential  (27 July 2011, 22:53:06) 
A black male driving a taxi filled up with R600 petrol and fled without paying.  
As we said some time ago, with the price of fuel going up and up, this type of crime is likely to increase.

Assagay , Kingfisher Lane.  Theft - Residential  (28 July 2011, 2:55:12) 
The kitchen door was forced open. A bicycle was stolen from the property. 

Having triggered the alarm this crook nabbed a bike from the yard and beat a hasty retreat before armed reaction could arrive. Loser!!

Sherwood,  Locksley Drive. Theft – Residential  (01 August 2011, 12:08:03)  
Suspects broke a basement window and pushed in the burglar guard. An aluminium glass door was stolen from the yard. 

Wyebank , Marigold Road. Theft – Business (27 July 2011, 19:37:24)
Copper water pipes were stolen from the wall of the premises.   

Glenwood, Sycamore Road. Theft – Business  (28 July 2011, 7:23:56) 
Suspects jumped over the back wall and entered the property. Cables were stolen.
  
Umbilo,  Devonshire Road.  Theft - Business (30 July 2011, 6:38:12) 
Copper pipes were stolen from a geyser. 

Queensburgh, Main Road. Theft - Business (30 July 2011, 7:31:53)
Three suspects outside the premises attempted to rob a staff member. Copper pipes were stolen from the building. 

Pinetown,  St Johns Avenue. Theft – Business  (30 July 2011, 7:59:20) 
An airconditioning unit was stolen from a Wendy house on the premises. The Wendy house was not protected by the alarm system.

Hillary, Mount Vernon Road.  Assault – Residential  (28 July 2011, 23:43:52) 
A resident approached three drunk men who were causing a disturbance in the street and asked them to stop. One suspect assaulted the resident with a bottle.

Bluff, St Patrick’s Road. Assault - Residential   (31 July 2011, 11:00:35)
A resident was assaulted due to a dispute over substances. 
 
Glen Hills, Malacca Road. Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle – Residential (28 July 2011, 19:51:27)
Two suspects armed with a firearm broke into a Toyota Corolla parked on the premises. 

SUCCESSES
Pinetown, Hill Street.  Housebreaking – Business (31 July 2011, 1:36:00)   
A suspect was seen inside the premises while the reaction officer was doing a routine check. The suspect was apprehended on Hill Street.     

Score - another chaser caught red-handed!

Prospecton, Avenue East.  Theft - Business (01 August 2011, 6:18:44)
A suspect was apprehended and arrested by the SAPS for shoplifting.

Westville, Jan Smuts Highway. Trespassing – Business  (01 August 2011, 12:48:30) 
A white male was arrested by the SAPS for harassing customers, damaging vehicles and attempting to stab a reaction officer with a broken bottle.

That’ll learn you … don’t mess with the Boys in Blue.

Attempted housebreaking where nothing was stolen:
Berea, Sydenham Road ( 27 July 2011, 8:43:35)
Chatsworth, Bilberry Avenue  (31 July 2011, 9:34:45)
Gillitts, Bartle Road ( 28 July 2011, 12:56:07) 
Glenwood,  Clarke Road  ( 27 July 2011,6:34:37)
Glenwood, Frere Road (28 July 2011, 20:14:39) 
Hillcrest, Shortlands Avenue  (01 August 2011, 14:24:42) 
Manor Gardens, Bank Terrace (01 August 2011, 9:41:30)
Mayville, Crestwalk Road (27 July 2011, 10:57:35) 
Morningside, Holden Road   (28 July 2011, 9:41:45)
Musgrave, Essenwood Road  (31 July 2011, 20:55:12) 
New Germany,  Blair Athol Road  (31 July 2011, 20:06:15)
New Germany, Nipper Road (27 July 2011, 22:56:03)
Overport, Brickfield Road (27 July 2011, 9:28:07) 
Pinetown, Eleanor Crescent  (27 July 2011, 5:42:24) 
Pinetown, Park Ridge Avenue (29 July 2011, 3:32:52)
Westmead, Gillitts Road (02 August  2011, 4:38:07)
Windermere, Harvey Road  (28 July 2011, 8:04:47)  
Wyebank,  Protea Road (27 July 2011, 6:25:14)