Three women held up in two separate robberies
A businesswoman, domestic worker and home owner were held up by robbers in two seperate incidents over two days.
TWO seperate robberies happened in the Greenwood Park area recently within two days.
“On 24 March a woman was approached by a man wielding a knife at her office in High Grove, uMngeni Park. The robber went up to her desk and grabbed a laptop and cellphone from her and fled the scene. It is believed he gained entry through a bathroom window at the office,” said Lt Elvis Naidoo, spokesman for the Greenwood Park SAPS.
It is believed the items stolen were valued at R9 300.
Two days later two armed men in Buttery Road, Durban North, also held up a domestic worker and her employer.
“It is believed the domestic worker was sweeping the backyard when an armed man approached her. Another armed man then approach her and locked her and her employer in the employer’s bathroom,” Lt Naidoo said.
It was reported that the two armed robbers demanded jewellery and safe keys, as well as car keys.
“Two other men then arrived at the scene in a Volkswagen Golf to pick up their accomplices. No shots were fired an no one was injured. No arrests or the recovery of the stolen items have been made,” he added.
Lt Naidoo offered some helpful tips to keep safe while at home.
• Ensure that all doors are locked at all times, and that windows are closed when you are not at home.
• Large dogs serve as a deterrent. At least one dog should be trained to sleep inside the house.
• If you leave your residence, inform your family/ neighbours of your intended destination, time you expect to return and the route you will be driving, especially if you reside in a rural area.
• Ensure that tools such as axes, spades, picks, ladders, etc that can be used in an attack, are locked away when you do not use them.
• Vary your daily routine.
• Get into the habit of not immediately falling asleep after switching off the lights. Remain awake for a while.
• You should not be visible in the bedroom from the outside when you are asleep.
• Always keep a torch nearby at night and when you use it, ensure that you do not give away your position.
• If you are unsure about the security status of your home after returning from work or a visit, e.g. your dogs do not come to the gate, do not enter your home. Contact your neighbour to assist you in securing your home.
• Identify relatively safe places of refuge, like a bathroom, toilet or storeroom.
• The fewer windows and doors these rooms have, the better.
• Involve employees as they are part of the family or team.
• Employees must be involved in maintaining security on an equal footing.
• Report suspicious behaviour and information to the South African Police Service.
• Clear the areas around the gates of bushes and other hiding places.
• Take photographs of all employees. It could be to your advantage to identify them, if required.
• Remunerate your employees when useful information is provided that contribute to the prevention of crime.
• Do not employ casual workers without a reference.
• Keep copies of all your employees’ Identity Documents (IDs).
• Ensure that you have a good relationship with your neighbours so that you will be in a good position to support and help each other.
