Crime Trends from 13 June – 18 July

Blue Security Operations Manager Brian Jackson said that apart from the 101 residential and business-housebreaking incidents reported to the company over the past month there had also been 16 armed robberies and four hijackings across Durban.

These statistics exclude trespassing, vandalism and attempted housebreaking incidents, which totalled 148 incidents and theft, theft of motor vehicles and out of motor vehicles, which totalled 67 incidents. “Fortunately there were no injuries reported during any of the armed robberies but in the most recent hijacking at the weekend a woman motorist was stabbed and had to be hospitalized,” he said.

Jackson said criminals had become increasingly brazen and were often undeterred by burglar bars, locked doors and security gates. “During most of the armed robberies and housebreakings suspects derailed driveway gates and then smashed down front or back doors and security gates, which is a preferred point of entry. Suspects also either cut or bent in burglar bars to gain entry,” he said.

Jackson warned residents to keep their gate motor covers locked at all times as there had been an incident reported where housebreakers had stuck their arms through the fence and pressed the test button on the gate motor to open the gate. “Most items that were stolen included, plasma screen and LCD televisions, jewellery, computers, laptops and cash but criminals in some cases also managed to grab handbags, car keys and remotes that had been left lying around,” he said.

“Housebreakers and thieves also broke into garages and sheds and stole items ranging from golf clubs to tools, while there were also several incidents of copper pipe theft and cable theft from substations,” he said.

Jackson urged residents to install early warning security systems such as outdoor beams and alarmed electric fencing and to consider keeping a dog in doors at night. “As criminals become more brazen the need to have an early warning system in place to cut short the time available to housebreakers to gain entry and ransack a property is essential to prevent the loss of valuables and potential harm to life and limb,” Jackson said.
“This could be in the form of external beams that will activate the alarm the moment an intruder is detected outside giving time to alert armed reaction and hopefully also scare off the suspects or it could be simply to keep your dog in doors with you so that you will be warned by their barking,” Jackson said. “Unfortunately, after incidents of dog poisoning recently, it is preferable for the safety of pets and for security to keep dogs inside at night.”
Jackson said residents in some areas had responded to the high level of crime by working with security companies to install street surveillance cameras such as Blue Security’s “Eye in the Sky” project that added an additional layer of security and provided an early warning system of any suspicious activity in a neighbourhood. He added that the company was also helping residents set up neighbourhood watch groups in various areas such as Durban North, Assegai and Waterfall to help people fight back against crime.