BEWARE: Robbers use household items to break into homes

A LOCAL security company urges residents to ensure there are no implements on their properties that could be used by criminals to gain access to their homes.

This warning was issued after a gang used a garden flower pot as a ladder to enter a Kloof home.

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Blue Security’s community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios, said a determined gang of burglars initially attempted to gain entry into the Wuhutu Crescent home by removing the kitchen burglar bars and louvre windows.

“They (the burglars) went to the other side of the building where they found a flower pot which they used to climb into the house through an otherwise inaccessible 3m high bathroom window. They smashed the window and forced the burglar guards off the frame to get inside,” he said. “They then rifled through the bedrooms in search of valuables before fleeing the scene. It is unclear at this stage what was stolen.”

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Mathios advised residents to lock up garden tools and other items when not in use.

“Criminals usually come prepared with their own housebreak-in implements, but opportunistic criminals may be emboldened to break into your home if they see these items lying around the garden. Pool nets are often used by intruders to ‘fish’ valuables like cellphones and wallets through open windows. It is also very dangerous to leave certain garden tools lying around as these can be used as weapons against you should an intruder gain entry into your home,” Mathios said.

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