BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEDING 20 OCTOBER 2011

Pinetown, Frey Road. Armed Robbery - Residential  (17 October 2011, 16:57:35)  
The resident arrived home and on opening the front door she was confronted by two suspects armed with knives who pushed her inside the house and robbed her of her briefcase which contained documents. The suspects fled on foot.

With surprise attacks and driveway hijackings becoming more frequent, we need to be aware each time we arrive or leave our homes that potential intruders may be lying in wait for us.  There is a lot we can do to lessen our chances of falling victim to these criminals. Firstly, take note of your environment.  Strangers loitering outside your house or cars parked on the verge should be an immediate red flag.   Clear trees and shrubs from around your property as this removes the cover that lurkers use to hide in. Dogs are great protectors, too. Also, keep your cell phone handy for emergency situations. Registering for ICE Blue and loading this emergency panic alarm onto your cell phone allows you to use your cell phone discreetly to raise a panic alarm, without having to speak or activate your alarm siren. We will receive your emergency signal in our control room and immediately send an armed reaction officer to your assistance. If you’d like more information about ICE Blue – which incidentally stands for In Case of Emergency and can also be used in medical emergency situations, please contact us on 031 717 5000.

Morningside, Fyfe Road.  Armed Robbery - Residential (15 October 2011, 1:23:48)  
Suspects used a ladder to climb onto the roof. The suspect removed roof tiles and broke through the ceiling into the resident's bedroom where the suspect held the resident up a knife-point. Cash and cell phones were stolen.

It’s as easy as 1,2, 3 getting through most roofs. Remove a couple of roof tiles, break through the  ceiling and hey presto the intruders are in. If you’d like to find out simple ways to protect your roof from intruders, please give us a call at our Pinetown office at  031 717 500 or our Umhlanga office at 031 584 6574 and we will have one of our security consultants to visit you.

Cato Manor, Bellair Road. Armed Robbery - Business (13 October 2011, 17:11:36) 
Five suspects armed with firearms entered the premises and held up a cashier. Cash was stolen. 

Cash is the most popular target for robbery.   Properly installed and positioned CCTV cameras are your eyes when you are getting on with more important things like running your business, and provide invaluable footage that is admissible in court should an incident occur.  

Westville, Aberfeldy Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (16 October 2011, 15:34:31)   

Suspects forced open the driveway gate and the security gate and front door. A 52" plasma screen TV and a VCR player were stolen. CCTV footage showed four suspects arriving on the premises in a grey BMW.

Crestholme, View Hills Crescent.  Gatecrashing - Residential (17 October 2011, 12:09:59)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the security gate and front door. A flat screen TV, two PlayStations, watches, jewellery and clothing were stolen.

Morningside, Ashby Road. Theft of a Motor Vehicle - Residential (14 October 2011, 4:43:02)
Three suspects forced open the driveway gate and entered the yard. The resident heard his vehicle starting and looked out the window. A suspect pointed a firearm at the resident and drove off in an unknown direction in the resident's VW Golf Velocity, registration number ND 609-736.

Kloof, Kenilworth Drive. Theft of a Motor Vehicle - Residential (18 October 2011, 7:05:46)   
The driveway gate was derailed and a maroon Mazda bakkie registration number, NU 12240 was stolen from the premises.

Morningside, Balance Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 October 2011, 5:28:19)   
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door. Two computers and a laptop were stolen.

Morningside, Claribel Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 October 2011, 6:52:26)    
Suspects opened a garage door and stole three bicycles and a lawnmower.

Kloof, Insala Road. Housebreaking - Residential  (13 October 2011, 1:40:45)    
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door. A TV was stolen.

Hillcrest, Commonage Road. Housebreaking - Residential  (13 October 2011, 4:18:49)    
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door. A TV was stolen.

New Germany, Sanders Road. Housebreaking - Residential (14 October 2011, 10:32:59) 
Suspects forced open a window to a Wendy house. The suspects took the keys to the main house from the Wendy house and opened the security gate and front door. A 32" plasma screen TV was stolen.

Time it was that you needed a trolley to move a TV. Now TVs are so light you can simply tuck them under your arm.

Glenwood, Emouth Road. Housebreaking - Residential  (14 October 2011, 12:21:26)   
Three suspects in a VW Citi Golf registration number NU 11723 were seen by the resident leaving the premises. The suspects had forced open the garage door and the security gate and kitchen door. A laptop was stolen.

New Germany, Ridge Road.  Housebreaking - Residential (14 October 2011, 13:49:16)  
Suspects forced open the burglar guard to a bedroom window that the resident had left open for their cat. A gold wrist watch was stolen.

Sometimes it’s unavoidable that you need to leave a window open – our advice is that if you do find yourself in this position ensure that the burglar guards that are installed on that window are of the highest quality that you can afford.

Foresthills, Azalea Place.  Housebreaking - Residential (15 October 2011, 19:49:41)   
Suspects used a step ladder found in the yard to climb up to a lounge window. The suspects broke the centre pane and entered the premises. A plasma screen TV and a set of golf clubs were stolen.

Montclair, Bangay Road. Housebreaking - Residential (15 October 2011, 22:02:44) 
Suspects used a step ladder to climb up to a bedroom window. The suspects broke the glass and entered the premises. Jewellery was stolen.

Here are two incidents where suspects have used the homeowners own equipment to break in to the property. Housebreakers are reluctant to carry “the tools of their trade” with them because if they get stopped and searched by the SAP they’re in a bit of hot water – that’s why it is so important that you keep out buildings and garages locked and alarmed.  

 
Northdene, Camphorwood Road. Housebreaking - Residential (15 October 2011, 20:37:00) 
Suspects broke a window and entered the premises. Cooking pots were stolen.

Hillcrest, Inyoni Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (16 October 2011, 2:56:22) 
Suspects cut a hole in the wire mesh fencing and entered the premises. A window was forced open and the burglar guard pushed in. A DVD player was stolen. 

Glenmore,  Bowen Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential (16 October 2011, 19:06:26)  
Suspects broke a kitchen window and entered the premises. Food and beers were stolen from the fridge. 

Westriding, Baron Road. Housebreaking – Residential (17 October 2011, 14:04:40)  
Suspects broke into a granny flat on the premises which was not protected by an alarm system. The suspects forced in the burglar guard through an open kitchen window. A computer, flat screen TV, hi-fi and clothing were stolen. 

Open window - burglar guard - get the best you can afford. (Cough, cough. Hello, tap, tap is this thing on?)

Morningside, Windermere Road. Housebreaking - Business (14 October 2011, 3:26:55)  
Suspects stole two computers from the reception area.

Springfield Park,  Beechfield Crescent . Housebreaking - Business (14 October 2011, 7:59:45)
Suspects removed metal sheeting from the roof and broke through the ceiling into the premises. A computer and a laptop were stolen.

Berea, Berea Road.  Housebreaking - Business (14 October 2011, 6:57:08)  
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door. Money machines and a fax machine were stolen.

Mayville, Saxon Avenue. Housebreaking - Business  (15 October 2011, 22:45:32)
Suspects broke a window and entered the premises. Tins of paint were stolen.

Farningham Ridge, Winston Churchill Drive.  Housebreaking - Residential  (18 October 2011, 9:52:20) 
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and the security gate and front door. A flatscreen TV, a laptop, a camera and jewellery were stolen.

Clare Estate, Viallis Road.  Theft - Residential (14 October 2011, 9:38:13) 
Three suspects jumped over the driveway gate and entered the premises. Copper piping was stolen. 

Padfield Park, Beare Road.  Theft  - Residential (14 October 2011, 13:47:07)  
Copper pipes were stolen from the back of the premises. 

Metal theft is rife as you know. Report any suspicious activity to the Telkom Hotline at 0800 124 000, the Eskom Hotline at 080 011 2722 or the eThekwini Traffic Hotline at 080 131 3031.

Morningside, Venice Road. Theft - Residential (15 October 2011, 11:50:47) 
Suspects stole a gas tank from the premises.  

Kloof, Old Main Road. Theft - Residential (16 October 2011, 6:20:47)  
Suspects stole copper water pipes from the premises. 

Morningside, Henwood Road. Theft - Residential (17 October 2011, 6:36:45)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and stole the gate motor.  

Waterfall, Brackenhill Road. Theft  - Residential (18 October 2011, 14:08:55)  
Suspects entered the property and stole copper pipes from the yard.  

Manor Gardens, Eland Road. Theft - Residential (18 October 2011, 17:20:32)    
A suspect used a rubbish bin to climb up to a partially open window. The suspect opened the window and fished out a laptop through the window. 

Umbilo,  Buxton Gardens. Theft - Residential (18 October 2011, 20:25:21)
Suspects jumped over the fence and the back of the property and forced open a bedroom window and pushed in the burglar guard. The suspects did not enter the house. The suspects also forced open a window to a granny flat on the property and stole copper pipes from the basin and toilet.

Montclair, Benson Road.  Theft - Residential (18 October 2011, 20:30:22)  
Suspects opened a bedroom window and stole a cell phone.   

Westville, Westville Road. Theft  - Business (14 October 2011, 1:14:57) 
A motorist put in R60 worth of petrol and drove off without paying.

Berea, Sylvan Grove.  Theft - Business (16 October 2011, 11:22:08)
A suspect broke a window and fished a scanning machine out the window. The scanner was recovered outside the premises.    

One “P’d” off fisherman – went to all of the trouble to fish out the fancy bit of office equipment – hoping it was a laptop, only to find a scanner. A bit like fighting what you think is a big fish, only to reel in a bunch of seaweed. Polite of him to leave it behind mind you. 

Manor Gardens, Archer Crescent. Assault - Residential (15 October 2011, 20:23:33)  
The resident was attacked by two suspects when he went to his garage which is situated on the roadside. The resident fought off the attackers and sustained minor injuries. The suspects fled on foot. 

Morningside, Florida Road. Theft out of  Motor Vehicle - Business  (14 October 2011, 5:48:49)  
Suspects broke the front window of a red VW Polo. 

Arena Park, Roseheights Road. Trespassing - Residential (17 October 2011, 13:03:06)  
A suspect jumped over the fence and ran through the resident's yard.

Our guess is this intruder wasn’t out for an afternoon jog but up to something a little more sinister.

New Germany, Sandhurst Road. Attempted Theft of a Motor Vehicle - Residential (12 October 2011, 9:59:13)    
Suspects attempted to steal a VW Citi Golf that was parked in the driveway. The suspects pushed the vehicle down the driveway and the vehicle crashed through the driveway gate and was then abandoned.

The definition of mixed emotions – are you happy that your car wasn’t stolen.. or angry because they crashed it?

SUCCESSES
Kloof, Umzwili Road.  Trespassing - Residential (12 October 2011, 5:05:35) 
A suspect was apprehended inside the complex and a second suspect fled on foot. 

What’s the difference between a trespasser and a housebreaker? A couple of minutes! (A trespasser is just a housebreaker who got caught before he broke in!)

Morningside, Harvey Road. Theft  - Residential (12 October 2011, 8:59:56)  
Suspects used a brick to break a window. The window was secured by a burglar guard and the suspects managed to fish a computer monitor through the burglar guards and the window. The monitor was recovered outside the window.

Pinetown, Vivienne Road. Trespassing - Residential (13 October 2011, 14:52:38) 
Two suspects cut a hole in the resident’s fence and entered the property. When the suspects realised that the resident was home they fled towards the M13 freeway. The reaction officer and the Pinetown SAPS searched the area for the suspects who were found about 100 meters before the Hans Deitman off ramp. The suspects were taken to the resident's premises and positively identified as the suspects who were in the resident's garden. The suspects were arrested by the Pinetown SAPS.

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together.

Prospecton, The Avenue East. Attempted Theft  - Business (16 October 2011, 18:06:07)
Two suspects attempted to break into the premises. One suspect fled when the alarm activated and another hid under a steel pipe. Shots were fired at the suspect and the suspect was apprehended.  
 
 
Attempted housebreaking where nothing appears to have been stolen:
Assagay, Cliffdale Road  (14 October 2011, 21:40:28) 
Berea, Berea Road  (14 October 2011, 11:10:04) 
Botha's Hill, Rob Roy Crescent  (14 October 2011, 21:42:29) 
Chatsworth, Moorton Drive (12 October 2011, 6:41:56)
Durban North, Athlone Drive (12 October 2011, 19:23:08)
Durban North, Station Ridge Road (14 October 2011, 22:06:55)
Effingham Heights, Kara Road (16 October 2011, 1:35:11) 
Glenmore, Grosvenor Road (16 October 2011, 15:56:31)
Morningside, Madeline Road (12 October 2011, 7:48:37)
Morningside, Poplar Road  (18 October 2011, 5:36:30)
New Germany, Bradfield Place  (15 October 2011, 3:56:09) 
New Germany, Escombe Road (17 October 2011, 3:35:12)
Northdene, Cunningham Road  (16 October 2011, 12:24:25) 
Pinetown,  Surprise Road (14 October 2011, 20:03:32)
Pinetown, Wareing Road (12 October 2011, 14:39:01)
Queensmead, Martin Drive (14 October 2011, 23:37:27) 
Stamfordhill, Woodford Grove (18 October 2011, 7:28:01) 
Umbilo, Hillier Road (18 October 2011, 4:45:25) 
Westville, Beaconsfield Road  (18 October 2011, 9:42:48)
Westville, Beverley Drive (15 October 2011, 14:05:13)