BLUE ALERT # 174 FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEDING 01 DECEMBER 2011

Berea, Berriedale Road. Theft of a Motor Vehicle - Residential (24 November 2011, 10:05:53)    
Suspects entered the premises through an open second floor window. A laptop, a handbag containing bank cards and a Hyundai, registration number ND: 380670 were stolen.  

It’s unnerving to think that an intruder can get into your home so soundlessly.   But they can. We have had a lot of heavy rain recently and rain can mask the sound of breaking glass etc, so be alert. Good quality burglar guards are a must to make it more difficult for intruders to get into your premises, but it’s always better to try to stop intruders before they can get up close to your home. Ideal first level security include: electric fencing and strip beams installed across gates and windows, magnetic locks on gates, and CCTV cameras.

Overport, Juniper Road. Theft of a Motor Vehicle - Residential (27 November 2011, 4:49:10)        
A white Toyota Fortuner, registration number ND: 185692 was stolen.  

Amanzimtoti, Crawford Place. Gatecrashing - Residential (24 November 2011, 10:13:37)          
Suspects forced open the driveway gate, the security gate and front door. Two laptops, a plasma screen TV and jewellery were stolen.

Mariannhill, Holzner Road. Gatecrashing - Residential  (25 November 2011, 9:33:55)    
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the front door. A plasma screen TV was stolen.

Westville, Kirriemuir Drive. Gatecrashing - Residential (25 November 2011, 19:12:52)    
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the security gate and front door. A plasma screen TV, a laptop and jewellery were stolen.  

Glenwood, Dartmouth Avenue. Gatecrashing - Residential (26 November 2011, 15:32:15)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the front door was a crow bar. A flat screen TV, a laptop and an iPod were stolen.

Hillcrest, Cliff Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (27 November 2011, 13:25:10)    
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and broke down the front door. Three flat screen TVs, a PlayStation and games, a notebook computer, an amplifier, a tablet computer and jewellery were stolen.  

Hillcrest, Cliff Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (27 November 2011, 13:13:37)    
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and broke down the front door. A hard drive and a wardrobe were stolen.

Sarnia, Underwood Road. Gatecrashing - Business (25 November 2011, 5:26:04)        
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the front door. A computer was stolen.

La Lucia, Ridge Road. Housebreaking - Residential (24 November 2011, 5:31:27)         
Suspects forced open a bedroom window and pulled out the burglar guard. A TV was stolen.

Glenmore, Grosvenor Road. Housebreaking - Residential (24 November 2011, 7:11:30)    
Suspects used the front door keys to open the door and enter the house. A laptop, CD/clock radio, shoes and a jacket were stolen.  

Security basics 101: Do not hang or place house keys near to windows.

Morningside, Fyfe Road.  Housebreaking - Residential  (24 November 2011, 13:40:53)     
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door. Three laptops, a plasma screen TV, a sewing machine and jewellery were stolen.

Westville,Duncan Road. Housebreaking - Residential (25 November 2011, 6:20:58)        
Suspects entered the house through an open window. A flat screen TV and two DVD players were stolen.

Manor Gardens, Nunhead Road. Housebreaking - Residential (25 November 2011, 10:31:37)    
Suspects forced open the front door and stole a TV.  

Everyone has a purpose in life, or so we are told. The purpose of thieves seems to be steal and to watch TV … but then again it may be …

Westville, Aberfeldy Road. Housebreaking - Residential (26 November 2011, 14:57:09)             
Suspects forced open the kitchen door and entered the premises. Two PlayStations and clothing were stolen.     

… to play PlayStation. Of course we know that these expensive electronic goods will be sold cheaply and quickly on the streets.

Morningside, Venice Road. Housebreaking - Residential (26 November 2011, 17:22:23)        
Suspects forced open the security gate and front door and entered the premises. Two DVD players, a DSTV decoder, a computer, an amplifier, a tuner and two speakers were stolen.

Umbilo, Brettenwood Road. Housebreaking - Residential (27 November 2011, 9:32:07)    
Suspects forced open a window and entered the premises. The suspects ransacked the premises and jewellery was stolen.

Durban North, Gainsborough Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (25 November 2011, 18:14:05)    

Suspects forced open the front door and entered the premises. A flat screen TV, three laptops, three iPods, an iPad, a VCR, a camera and a hard drive were stolen.

Glenwood, Cato Road. Housebreaking - Residential  (29 November 2011, 4:34:44)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the security gate and front door. A cash box was stolen.

Durban North, Carlisle Crescent. Housebreaking - Residential  (29 November 2011, 18:56:42)
Suspects forced open a bathroom window and removed the burglar guard. The main bedroom was ransacked and a box of personal document, a camera and clothing were stolen.

It’s very distressing to lose personal documents. Not only is there the inconvenience of having to replace the documents, there is also the risk of identity fraud. Keep all original personal documents locked in a safe and only carry personal documents that you need with you. In other words, there is no need to always carry your ID around with you. Your driver’s license which we are required to carry is sufficient ID in most cases.

Glenwood,  Shuter Road. Housebreaking - Residential  (30 November 2011, 3:56:31)    
Suspects entered the house through a bathroom window. A laptop and R500 in cash was stolen.

Kloof, Tracy Watts Road. Housebreaking – Business (29 November 2011, 8:18:03)    
Suspects forced open a window and pushed in the burglar guard to the canteen room. A kettle was stolen.  

Oops, there goes another, kettle.

Westmead,  Gillitts Road.  Housebreaking – Business (29 November 2011, 8:07:01)
Suspects entered the premises through an upper floor window and stole a laptop.

Durban Central, Commercial Road. Housebreaking - Business (23 November 2011, 7:54:29)        
Suspects forced open a security gate and kicked in the bottom half of a stable door. Airtime, cigarettes and cash were stolen.

Hillcrest, Kassier Road. Housebreaking - Business (25 November 2011, 5:01:08)
A cash till was stolen.

Ka-ching – these thieves hit the jackpot.   If your business is cash based, remember cash is king among the criminal element and that as seasonal stock levels rise, so does theft from retail outlets in all   forms.  All types of businesses can also benefit from the use of CCTV security camera systems.  A CCTV system can be used to monitor cash registers and is an excellent way to keep track of transactions and those using the cash registers.    

Umbilo, Gale Street. Housebreaking - Business (23 November 2011, 10:37:34)         
Suspects cut the fence and entered the property. The suspects broke into a vehicle on the premises and stole a hi-fi and syphoned diesel from a truck on the premises.

Electric fences are a great deterrent to would-be intruders. If your electric fence is correctly installed and wired, the possibility and magnitude of shock that may be experienced will be a huge deterrent for most intruders from trying to enter your premises. This psychological barrier the person must overcome is probably one of the best advantages an electric fence has as a first line of defense. It will deter most people and send them off to look for some easier pickings.

Westmead, Mahogany Ridge. Housebreaking - Business (24 November 2011, 2:56:36)        
Suspects forced open a window and pushed in the burglar guard. Three computers were stolen.

Rossburgh, South Coast Road.    Housebreaking - Business (26 November 2011, 5:03:26)        
Suspects broke and unprotected window and entered the premises. A docking station was stolen.  

Pinetown, Old Main Road. Housebreaking – Business (27 November 2011, 6:14:04)    
Suspects forced open the front door and entered the premises. Two computers were stolen.

Montclair,  Pemberton Road. Theft - Residential (24 November 2011, 5:18:45)    
A suspect jumped over the fence and stole a tile cutter from the yard.  

Northdene, Allen Place. Theft - Residential  (25 November 2011, 14:46:23)    
A suspect jumped over the front gate and stole a grass cutter that was lying on the lawn.

Kloof, Greenace Place. Theft - Residential (26 November 2011, 2:39:24)    
The resident was woken by a noise and pressed the panic alarm. The resident saw two suspects jumping over the fence. Clothing was stolen from the washing line.      
Padfield, Ryan Road. Theft - Residential (26 November 2011, 11:02:33)         
A suspect jumped over the wall and stole two aluminium chairs from the patio.       

Another score! Lovely aluminium chairs. It’s best to pack away garden furniture and keep temptation out of sight and mind.

Rossburgh, Irene Road. Theft - Business (23 November 2011, 8:13:31)    
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and stole metal poles from the yard.  

Pinetown, Mariannhill Road. Theft - Business (25 November 2011, 5:15:07)        
Suspects stole four tyres from a Polo classic parked in the yard.

A sign of the times? Tyres are expensive, and they will fetch a handsome price on the black market. If possible, keep your vehicles locked in a secure garage that is linked to the alarm system, or arm the alarm whenever you leave a parked vehicle.

Hillcrest, Shortlands Avenue. Theft – Residential  (29 November 2011, 6:08:20)         
Clothing was stolen from the premises.   

Hillcrest, Inanda Road. Theft – Residential  (29 November 2011, 11:31:30)    
Copper water pipes were stolen from the premises.  

Waterfall, Mazart Farm.  Theft – Residential (29 November 2011, 12:16:12)
Cables were stolen from the property.  

Reservoir Hills, Dunstaple Crescent. Theft  - Residential (29 November 2011, 15:21:27)
A jacket was stolen from the washing line.

A lonely jacket stolen from the washing line. It must have been looking for company.  Washing left on lines overnight is an attraction for opportunistic criminals, and as we don’t want criminals prowling around our property, remember to take washing in overnight.

Glenmore, Elgie Road. Theft out of a Motor Vehicle - Residential (23 November 2011, 14:22:40)
A suspect broke into a Mazda parked on the road and stole a laptop bag.

Morningside, Florida Road. Theft out of a Motor Vehicle - Residential (24 November 2011, 14:33:10)      
A suspect broke into a vehicle and stole a laptop.

A thief cruising the streets, spies a laptop. “Bravo!” he says, “I’m in luck!” He reaches for a spark plug, smashes the car window, snatches the laptop and disappears into the blue yonder. You’ve just made this crook’s day. Has he made yours? Never!  This crook has just left you without a laptop and expensive damage to your car. Theft from motor vehicles can be prevented by removing all valuables from your car.

Berea, Lancaster Road.   Theft out of a Motor Vehicle – Residential  (29 November 2011, 21:16:51)

Suspects stole cash and two cell phones from a Toyota Corolla parked on the premises.

Reservoir Hills, Dunstaple Crescent. Vandalism  - Residential (25 November 2011, 3:34:15)    
Suspects broke a window of a Jetta parked on the premises.  

Bonela, Mowbray Gardens. Vandalism - Residential (27 November 2011, 21:37:22)    
The residents were inside their premises when a gang of between 10 and 12 suspects derailed the driveway gate and entered the property. The suspects broke the window of the client's Isuzu bakkie and Chevrolet truck and three windows of the house before fleeing in an unknown direction.

Cowies Hill, Birdhurst Road. Vandalism – Residential (29 November 2011, 4:52:42)
Suspects forced open the driveway gate. The suspects opened the door of Citi Golf parked in the yard and tampered with the ignition.

SUCCESSES
Clair Estate, O' Flaherty Road. Theft - Business  (23 November 2011, 17:25:24)         
A shoplifter was apprhended and arrested for attempting to steal soap.  

Why pay for it when you can steal it? That’s the motto of thieves.   

Manor Gardens, Eland Road. Housebreaking - Residential  (24 November 2011, 9:24:38)        
Suspects squeezed through the burglar guards of a window that was left open. A bag was stolen containing no valuables and was recovered in Marche Place.

Morningside, Woodford Grove. Theft - Business (26 November 2011, 6:39:36)    
A suspect was apprehended and arrested for stealing steel from an outbuilding.

Pinetown, Surprise Road. Attempted Theft – Business (27 November 2011, 12:30:14)        
A suspect cut a hole in the fence and was apprehended and arrested for attempting to steal pipes from the yard.  

Berea , Lancaster Road. Theft – Residential  (29 November 2011, 16:48:36)
A suspect was apprehended and arrested for stealing a lawnmower.   

Attempted housebreaking where nothing appears to have been stolen:
Ashley, Du Toit Avenue (29 November 2011, 5:15:16)
Botha’s Hill, Mkhize Road (29 November 2011, 15:44:40)
Durban North, Attebury Road (25 November 2011, 1:34:49)
Farningham Ridge, Bartlett Road (27 November 2011, 19:35:01)      
Glen Anil, Columbine Road (26 November 2011,  7:37:35)    
Glen Anil, Wattle Road (24 November 2011, 8:26:32)
Glenashley, Savell Road (27 November 2011, 3:54:44)
Glenwood,  Clark Road (29 November 2011, 20:32:10)
Glenwood, Maze Road (25 November 2011, 12:24:49)
Hillcrest, Leinster Place (24 November 2011, 3:10:46)
Morningside, Montpellier Road (25 November 2011, 4:07:40)
Morningside, Rapson Road (27 November 2011, 2:35:00)    
Sarnia, Underwood Road (27 November 2011, 5:49:56)
Stamfordhill, Woodford Grove (24 November 2011, 4:42:47)    
Westville, Mottramdale Road (27 November 2011, 8:56:35)    
Wyebank, Ebony Crescent (25 November 2011, 2:42:26)