Property owners urged to beware

Criminals in the Cleveland SAPS precinct are targeting unsuspecting owners.

Warrant Officer Marx Crouse said property-related crimes and house robberies are concerning. He was speaking at a Kensington Sector Security Forum meeting held recently.

He said criminals stop at houses for sale and tell the domestic workers they want to see the property.

The suspects pretend to contact the owners after obtaining the phone numbers from the domestic workers.

“They tell the domestic worker the owner said they can look at the property. They access the property and steal items of value. If someone comes to see your property, be vigilant. Let the domestic worker or anyone else at home know that no one is allowed to view your property when you are not around,” said W/O Crouse.

Over the past month, guest houses continued to be targeted by criminals.

Some guest houses lost thousands of Rands worth of electronic equipment and other items.

One guest house owner spoke about an informer letting the criminals know which room to go to while others spoke of criminals booking themselves in and accessing the guests’ rooms.

There were also other crimes, such as criminals posing as workers in guest houses, in the precinct.

The EXPRESS previously reported that a suspect died at a guest house.

Constable Mpho Mashakane, the Cleveland SAPS communications officer, said three guests left their bags in their room and went shopping. When they returned they found a man in their room.

He told them he was working at the guest house. The guests then realised their bags had been searched.

One of the guests grabbed him and he collapsed and died in the room.

The man was found in possession of keys he was using to open rooms at the guest house.

W/O Crouse said the man had a laptop, backpack and a file used to file down keys to gain access to the rooms.

Earlier this year, the EXPRESS published an article about two dignitaries from the Angolan Parliament and their wives who were robbed in Cyrildene.

A man was also recently shot at a guest house in Kensington. W/O Crouse said the man was asked by a person exchanging his cash at the airport where he would be staying and he provided these details.

To keep informed about what is happening in your suburb, attend your local sector meetings or the Cleveland Community Police Forum meeting.

Kensington residents can also attend the Kensington Sector Security Forum and the I Love Kensington Association meetings.

Residents and business owners can also visit the forum and association’s Facebook pages to keep in touch with what is happening in the suburb.

@JoziReporter