Durban suburbs plagued by armed robbers

Blue Security has urged residents and business owners to be vigilant during the school holidays, following a spike in armed robberies over the past week. Blue Security operations manager Brian Jackson said at least two hijackings and six armed robberies had been reported across the city, in Manor Gardens, Glenmore, Glen Anil, Pinetown, Malvern and the CBD. He urged residents to remain security conscious over the Easter holiday period when criminals would be looking for opportunities.
Jackson said in the latest incident an elderly couple was injured during a broad daylight hijacking in Manor Gardens at 1pm on Saturday. “The couple sustained injuries to their legs when two hijackers held them up. They pulled them out of the car as they were pulling into a driveway in Queen Elizabeth Avenue,” he said. “Paramedics attended the scene and transported the victims to a nearby hospital. Their car was later recovered in Chesterville.”
Jackson urged Glenwood and Glenmore residents to be on the lookout for a gang of three armed robbers driving a black Yaris, after a resident’s nephew was robbed in Dan Pienaar Road on Friday. “The gang held up his nephew at gunpoint as he was walking along the road at around 5.30am in the morning. They robbed him of his tablet and cellphone,” he said.
Mayville SAPS attended the scene of the crime.
Jackson said a family was held up in a home invasion in Dulwich Crescent in Malvern just before 7pm on Wednesday. “A gang of six men all armed with firearms accosted a family member, who went outside to fetch something from inside their car, and pushed him back inside the house. The armed robbers tied up the family and ransacked the house before fleeing with flat screen televisions, tablets, car keys and jewellery.” He added that the gang had fled in a white van with no registration plates.
Jackson advised residents not to let down their guard and to be vigilant during the school holidays, especially when arriving and leaving home which was a prime time for criminals to strike. “Parents especially need to make sure that children and teenagers don’t go walking around the suburbs with cellphones and tablets in full view. This makes them easy prey for criminals,” he said. “When driving in the car, keep valuables out of sight to avoid a smash and grab incident.”
Jackson advised residents who are going away on holiday for the Easter weekend to ensure that their homes are adequately secured, and that their house alarms have been activated.