Multiple Salt Rock burglaries

A Salt Rock couple want to warn others of a burglar who is suspected of being responsible for multiple break-ins in their area.

The residents, who wished not to be named, returned to their house on Hugh Dent Drive that evening after a trip to Stellenbosch. A garden service had been at the house that day and the owner had not set the alarm.

When they opened the door they quickly realised they had been burgled. They hit the panic button which alerted IPSS. Once IPSS, Umhlali SAPS and the Salt Rock Neighbourhood Watch arrived, they reviewed the CCTV footage from the seven cameras on the property.

It revealed that the thief had been on the premises for over two hours. He jumped over a wall and checked windows and doors to see if anyone was home.He entered the house through the garage, grabbed a ladder used it climbed into the house through a second story window. The thief ransacked the house, going through most draws and cupboards looking for anything of value. He left when he heard the man and his wife arrive.

A trail of sweet wrappers helped track his footsteps later that evening.The burglar had unbolted a part of their palisade fence allowing a quick exit from the property. Following the trail the next morning, the residents came across a small dug out hole covered with branches and palm leaves.Inside they found a few of their items that had been left behind as well a knife and shotgun shells. IPSS and SAPS came to investigate the hideout.

Stolen property from other burglaries was also discovered.

“One item was a family on holiday from Canada, who had been held at knife point in their holiday home, and another from a break-in where the residents were also threatened with a knife,” the owner said.As the thief has still not been arrested, they are urging people to be vigilant.”This guy is really in touch with his surroundings, he knows exactly what he is doing,” the owner said. IPSS Security Services director Frank Labidi hammered home the importance of activating alarm systems.”We cannot respond to incidents if alarms are not activated and that is in the hands of home-owners,” he said.

Umhlali SAPS Warrant Officer Mandla Ngema is investigating the crime and has asked people to contact him if they have any information that could assist the case. Contact W/O Ngema on 072 239 3440.