BLUE ALERT FOR ALL AREAS FOR THE WEEK PRECEDING 15 DECEMBER 2011

New Germany, Blair Althol Road. Hijacking - Residential (07 December 2011, 7:35:05)  
Two suspects confronted the resident as she was opening her gate. One suspect produced a firearm and snatched the car keys from the resident's hand. The suspects fled in the resident’s burgundy VW Velocity with the resident's handbag, cell phone and keys to a business premises.

Westmead, Clark Road. Hijacking - Residential (08 December 2011, 6:50:48) 
Three armed suspects confronted the resident as he was opening up his premises and demanded the car keys. The suspect fled in the resident's green VW Golf, registration number NP 36906.

Driveway hijackings are on the increase. And, what we mean by this is that if criminals are intent on stealing your vehicle, they will most likely do so while you are in our driveway. Be aware of your environment, and this means who is loitering on the streets near to your home, where practical vary your daily routine and trim shrubbery away from your driveway so that criminals will find it difficult to use the foliage for cover.  You may be interested to read how an alert Hillary resident narrowly avoided being hijacked in her driveway http://www.facebook.com/blue.sec.dbn

Rosehill, Manfred Drive. Armed Robbery - Residential (09 December 2011, 11:35:27)   
A suspect held up the domestic worker at gun point. A TV was stolen.

Glenmore, Melisina Avenue. Armed Robbery - Residential (12 December 2011, 10:55:38)  
Two armed suspects confronted the domestic worker while she was hanging up washing. The suspects tied up the domestic worker and ransacked the house. A firearm and jewellery were stolen from a bedroom safe.

Berea, Dennis Sheptsone Road. Armed Robbery - Business (12 December 2011, 0:34:04) 
A suspect armed with a knife and a suspect armed with a shot gun held up a guard. A computer tower was stolen.

This makes you think! 77% of the perpetrators stated that they chose targets for which they had some ‘inside information.’  For example, they would be able to get information about a particular house from domestic workers, gardeners or other service providers or from the relatives or acquaintances of these people. This is according to Professor Rudolph Zinn, a senior lecturer in Forensic and Crime investigation at the University of South Africa from his research into the modus operandi of perpetrators convicted for “aggravated robbery”.

Our advice: Be very careful who you employ and who you trust with personal information.

Morningside, Vause Road. Theft of a Motor Vehicle - Residential  (12 December 2011, 9:25:23)   
A red Toyota Tazz, registration number ND 319194, was stolen from outside the premises.

The police have issued warnings throughout the year to residents that motor vehicle theft is on the increase. Vehicles parked on pavements are especially at risk. Where possible park your car and visitors’ cars inside your property and close driveway gates.  Perimeter Intruder Detection beams, provided these devices are armed, will activate the alarm siren and alert you and our control room if an intruder enters your property. Sirens tend to scare intruders away from your property and Blue Security’s control will be also able to alerted to the fact that you are in need of assistance. 

Glenhills, Harrison Drive. Gatecrashing - Residential (07 December 2011, 16:40:35)    
Suspects forced open the driveway gate and used pot plants to break a lounge window. A flat screen TV and battery chargers were stolen.  

Durban North, Dorrington Crescent. Gatecrashing - Residential (09 December 2011, 20:01:49) 
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the security gate and front door. A kettle and a TV were stolen.

There goes kettle No.1.

Sherwood, Candella Road. Gatecrashing - Residential (09 December 2011, 21:11:30)  
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the front door. Cash was stolen. 

Morningside, Florida Road. Housebreaking - Residential  (08 December 2011, 1:25:46)    
A suspect broke a window and entered the premises. A bottle of brandy was stolen.

Cheers!  No one can deny ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly, but regrettably in the good old RS of A, other people’s joy often comes at our own expense. Maddening, yes, but we need to look to the security measures that we have in place and assess how effective or adequate they are at keeping out the criminal element, taking into account crime trends in the area in which our premises or residences are situated.   It stands to reason that more security is needed the higher the risk.

Westville, Neville Road. Gatecrashing - Residential  (13 December 2011, 11:16:18)
Suspects derailed the driveway gate and forced open the front door. A TV was stolen.   

Crestholme, Umgeni View Road. Housebreaking  - Residential (08 December 2011, 13:28:21)
Suspects broke a window with a stone and entered the premises. A camera and a cell phone were stolen.  

New Germany, Hillside Road. Housebreaking - Residential (09 December 2011, 11:49:18)  
Suspects jumped over the fence and entered the house through an open lounge window. A TV was stolen.

Westville, Epping Drive. Housebreaking - Residential (09 December 2011, 20:02:19)  
Suspects forced open the front door and entered the premises. A TV was stolen.
 
Morningside, 11th Avenue. Housebreaking - Residential  (10 December 2011, 20:04:50)   
Suspects forced open a pedestrian gate and entered the yard. The front door and security gate were forced open and two laptops from the office area of the house and a pair of knives from the kitchen were stolen.

Mmm, it’s not unusual for opportunistic housebreakers to arm themselves with weapons such as knives from your premises to protect themselves from attack while they are in your premises and apprehension and arrest after a housebreaking.  Perimeter security and good quality barrier security on doors and windows, shutting windows and locking door and always arming the alarm, can be sufficient deterrents to stop burglars from seeing your home as an easy target and getting into your residence.

Berea, Currie Road. Housebreaking - Residential (10 December 2011, 21:39:13) 
Suspects entered a cottage on the premises through an open window. Electrical tools were stolen.

Winston Park, Montgomery Drive. Housebreaking - Residential  (11 December 2011, 12:25:07)
Suspects forced open the front door and entered the premises. A plasma screen TV and a computer were stolen. 

Glenmore, Pitcairn Road. Housebreaking - Residential (12 December 2011, 13:49:10)
Suspects entered the house through the roof and stole a hi-fi.

Blue Security is determined the Grinches won’t steal the spirit of Christmas. In the spirit of keeping you safe, we would advise that you install microwave passives in your roof as the roof is now becoming a favoured entry point for criminals – again for obvious reasons, as the roof is often the weakest link in your home security system.

Morningside, Percy Osborne Road. Housebreaking - Residential (13 December 2011, 1:03:14) 
Suspects unlocked the kitchen door and entered the premises. An iPod was stolen.
 
Hillcrest, Surprise Ridge Road. Housebreaking  - Residential (08 December 2011, 17:54:53)  
Suspects broke the middle pane of a kitchen window and entered the premises. A computer, hi-fi, a PlayStation with remotes, two wrist watches, a laptop and a hard drive were stolen.

Westville, Nordene. Housebreaking - Residential  (13 December 2011, 18:07:36)
Suspects entered the premises through the roof and two laptops were stolen.  

Pinetown Kings Road. Housebreaking - Business (09 December 2011, 5:03:05)   
Suspects forced open a door and entered the premises. Five computers were stolen.

Isipingo, Old Main Road. Housebreaking - Business (09 December 2011, 5:50:29)   
Suspects broke a glass door and entered a staff room. A kettle and an iron were stolen.

And there goes kettle No.2.

New Germany, Nipper Road. Housebreaking - Business (10 December 2011, 14:17:46) 
Suspects jumped over the fence and broke a window. A computer was stolen.

Durban, West Street. Housebreaking - Business (12 December 2011, 9:20:25)  
Suspects broke a window and entered the premises through the ceiling. Toys were stolen. 

Glenmore, Marshall Grove. Mugging - Residential  (12 December 2011, 15:30:12)
A resident walking on the road was robbed of her cell phone.

Rossburgh, Recreation Road. Assault - Business (08 December 2011, 17:03:02)
Two suspects entered the property by jumping over the fence. An elderly staff member was assaulted by the suspect with a steel pipe before fleeing.   

The elderly are at particular risk of attack because they are frail and clearly not formidable opponents. Most elderly people are pensioners and adequate security is unfortunately beyond the budget.  ICE Blue! is an affordable emergency panic service that  does not want or need a full alarm system and is, therefore, ideal for pensioners.  To find out more about or sign up for ICE Blue! please visit our website at http://www.bluesecurity.co.za/site/index.php/ice.html

Carrington Heights, Fieldon Drive. Theft - Residential (07 December 2011, 18:35:52) 
Suspects climbed over the wall and stole copper cables and pipes from the yard.   

Hillcrest, Springside Road. Theft - Residential (08 December 2011, 17:59:40)  
A bicycle was stolen from an unlocked garage.
 
Musgrave, Musgrave Road. Theft - Residential  (10 December 2011, 3:27:10)   
Suspects cut the electric fence and entered the yard. A ladder was stolen from the yard. 

Always keep your electric fence on day and night - it is designed to keep intruders out of your property, and link the electric fence to your alarm / siren. 

Glenwood, Nicholson Road. Theft - Residential (10 December 2011, 10:33:45)  
A suspect jumped over the fence and stole a tap from the yard. 

Glenwood, Payne Road. Theft - Residential (11 December 2011, 21:05:38)  
A suspect jumped over the fence and stole a tap from the yard.
 
Taps and kettles go together like bacon and eggs. More seriously, though, metal theft is rife in many parts of Durban. Please report metal theft to the Telkom Hotline at 0800 124 000, the Eskom hotline at 080 011 2722 and the eThekwini Traffic Hotline at 080 131 3013.

Umbilo, Enfield Avenue. Theft - Residential  (12 December 2011, 5:05:11)  
Suspects broke a window of a silver Toyota Tazz parked on the premises and stole a step ladder.

Prospecton, The Avenue East. Theft - Business (12 December 2011, 22:04:01) 
The drivers of three Toyota Quantum  filled up with fuel and  drove off without paying.

Morningside, Eleventh Avenue. Trespassing - Residential (08 December 2011, 0:24:35)   
Two suspects who were on the property fled.

Clairwood, South Coast Road. Trespassing - Business (10 December 2011, 19:51:20)  
A suspect placed a blanket over the electric fence and entered the yard. The suspects fled when they were spotted by the supervisor.
 
New Germany, Bohmer Road. Vandalism - Residential (12 December 2011, 4:30:28)  
Suspects broke the passenger window of a Toyota Auris parked on the premises. 

Hillcrest, Fischer Road. Vandalism - Residential (07 December 2011, 11:41:46) 
The resident noticed two suspects jumping over the wall into the yard. The resident pressed the panic alarm and the suspects fled.

Musgrave, Lancaster Road.  Vandalism - Residential  (14 December 2011, 4:16:36) 
Suspects entered the property and broke the window of a car parked in the yard.

Morningside, Florida Road. Vandalism - Business (07 December 2011, 22:25:05)   
A suspect attempting to break into a white VW Polo, registration number ZWG425GP, was apprehended.

SUCCESSES
Clairwood, Archary Road. Trespassing - Business (09 December 2011, 18:09:03)    
A suspect was arrested for trespassing. 

Attempted housebreaking where nothing appears to have been stolen:
Caversham Glen, Magnolia Place (14 December 2011, 23:16:03)
Durban, Gale Street (11 December 2011, 15:42:39) 
Glenhills, Hydrangea Place (09 December 2011, 18:21:07) 
Kingsburgh, San Luiz Avenue (07 December 2011, 12:39:59) 
Kloof, Wuhutu Road (08 December 2011, 17:36:20) 
Morningside, Currie Road (13 December 2011, 1:30:56)
New Germany, High Street (09 December 2011, 14:25:27)
Morningside, Windermere Road (13 December 2011, 7:34:56)
Pinetown, Trafalgar Place (09 December 2011, 10:31:24) 
Queensburgh, Rapson Road (09 December 2011, 15:01:32)
Westville, Blairgowrie Road (14 December 2011, 2:02:08)
Westville, Dene Place (13 December 2011, 9:01:37) 
Westville, Kirriemuir Drive (13 December 2011, 10:04:24) 
Westville, Nordene Road (08 December 2011, 0:29:11)
Winston Park, Montgomery Drive (09 December 2011, 10:59:30) 
Winston Park, Van Riebeeck Road (14 December 2011, 2:02:29)