Quick response nets housebreaker, leads to recovery of getaway car with stolen goods

Swift teamwork by Blue Security armed response officers, Glenmore Community Watch, residents and the police led to the arrest of a house burglar and the recovery of a gang’s getaway car in Umbilo on Tuesday afternoon.
Blue Security operations manager Brian Jackson said a resident alerted the Glenmore Community Watch and residents to the crime in progress in Dan Pienaar Road and a neighbor pressed a panic button, alerting armed response officers to the incident at around 1.30pm on Tuesday.
“The burglars derailed the driveway gate and then forced open the house’s front security gate before smashing down the front door. They ransacked three rooms in the house but were disturbed when a neighbour pressed the panic button and two of our officers arrived swiftly at the scene along with several members of the Glenmore Community Watch,” Jackson said.
“A fourth suspect who was waiting in the getaway car, a Renault Clio NPN 89992, sped off when he saw one of our officers arrive and the other three suspects fled on foot. Our officer initially chased the suspects on foot but two of them started hopping fences and managed to evade arrest. He called for back up and a second officer arrived in his vehicle and chased the third suspect as far as Leighton Crescent off Bartle Road, where he was arrested,” he said.
“The abandoned vehicle was later found by a tow-truck driver recovered by the police along with stolen goods, including firearm ammunition and linen, on the corner of Umbilo and Rick Turner roads. Umbilo SAPS took the vehicle and the suspect into custody,” he said.
Jackson commended the officers and the community watch for their swift response to the scene. “When residents, security firms and the police join forces to fight crime it sends a strong message to criminals that their activities will not be tolerated and that they will be brought to book if they target our neighbourhoods,” he said.