POLICING partnerships came to the fore last week when a Blue Security reaction officer arrested an alleged burglar in Glenwood in a joint operation with community patrollers last week.
Blue Security managing director Darryn le Grange said the reaction officer had arrived in Penzance Road after the alleged housebreaker had been spotted moving from house to house trying to break into properties.
“The Glenmore community patrollers gave chase and called Blue Security for assistance. Our reaction officer arrived on the scene and immediately arrested the suspect,” le Grange said.
Umbilo SAPS attended the scene and took the suspect to the police station.
“We commend the joint efforts of the patrollers, our reaction officer and the SAPS in curbing this incident of housebreaking. We believe that it is only in partnership with communities and the police that we can best win the fight against crime and make our suburbs and homes the safe havens that they should be for our families and employees,” le Grange said.
He said several housebreakings had been reported to Blue Security from across the Berea over the past week mostly in Glenwood, Glenmore and Morningside.
Incidents including housebreakings and theft in Greyville and Morningside took place in 9th Avenue, Linze Road, Umgeni Road, Sutton Crescent, Florida Road, Claribel Road and Goodricke Road.
Criminals managed to flee with televisions, computers, power cables, an alarm system, tools, a table and two cars.
In Dan Pienaar Road, Glenmore, burglars broke into a house through a window and stole a cellphone, while in Forsdick Road housebreakers removed three louvre windows and fled with jewellery and foreign currency.
“Criminals also damaged a driveway gate and stole a gate motor and battery from a property in Bowen Avenue. In River Drive, thieves smashed the window of a car parked in the yard and stole several personal belongings. In Davenport Road, Glenwood, suspects driving a silver VW Polo broke into a Toyota Quantum and stole four bags that contained several credit cards, cell phones and a camera,” he said.
Le Grange urged residents never to leave valuables locked in a car even if it was parked behind locked gates or in a shopping mall parking area.
“Rather be safe than sorry and carry the valuables with you if you have forgotten to put them away at home, than take a chance by leaving them in your vehicle. Even if the items are out of sight it is an unnecessary risk that could be prevented,” le Grange added.
Additional incidents of trespassing, theft and vandalism were reported in Ferguson Road in Glenwood, Venice Road and Silverton Road in Musgrave and in Sydney Road in Umbilo.
