BLUE Security has warned Highway residents to be vigilant as criminals have targeted numerous homes and businesses in the Pinetown and Westville area in recent weeks.
The managing director for the company, Darryn le Grange, said 25 crime incidents in these two suburbs, including two armed robberies and a shooting in Pinetown, had been reported to the company in the past two weeks.
In an incident on Old Main Road, armed robbers held up a security guard at knifepoint and tied him up before cutting the lock to the premises to gain entry into the building.
“Fortunately, the security guard activated the alarm and the robbers fled the scene without stealing anything,” said le Grange.
A resident was robbed at her home in River Drive in Westville at 1pm in the afternoon recently. “Two armed men held up the resident in her driveway, smashed a window of her car, grabbed her handbag, cellphone and keys before they fled the scene,” said le Grange.
Housebreakers targeted several homes and businesses in Westville, Pinetown, New Germany, Gillitts and Kloof where they had gained access to the properties after derailing the driveway gates, forced open burglar bars and the doors. Housebreakers fled with computers, laptops, television sets, water pipes, cellphones, jewellery and shoes.
“In once incident housebreakers gained access through the roof of the house, while the domestic worker was on the property. Fortunately, she locked herself safely in the bathroom and activated the alarm while the burglars ransacked the property,” said le Grange.
He also urged residents to store or hang keys out of the view of windows as one housebreaker fished the door keys of a house through the window of a Hillcrest home.
“Fortunately, the residents had armed their alarm system and the moment he opened the door the alarm was activated and he immediately fled the scene,” said le Grange. “Residents are urged to regularly check their alarm systems and the batteries on remote panic buttons so that they will be able to call their security company for assistance during the unfortunate event of an emergency.”
