TWO suspects, allegedly part of a syndicate targeting unoccupied houses in north Durban, were arrested at the weekend. 

According to Executive Neighbourhood Security (ENS) spokesperson, Hayden Conradie, the suspects ransacked an uMhlanga home of goods worth R2-million including the homeowner’s car, a BMW 650i.

In all, the suspects made more than 30 trips, since mid March, to the home to steal items.

“The home was fully furnished and remained unoccupied for a few years. The suspects broke into the garage and stole the sports car and furniture from the house valued at R2 million.”

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“With the assistance of our cameras in the area and long hours of investigation, we established that this crime started in March this year and the syndicate made 34 trips to the house over a five-week period. The BMW was removed by the suspects on a flat bed trailer They even cut the lock off the gate and put their own lock and chain on the gate,” he said. 

The arrest was made with the SAPS Durban North Trio Crimes Unit, Navic Security and the ENS.

Conradie added that around 80 per cent of the furniture had been recovered as well as the vehicle.

“This is a well organised syndicate who target vacant houses and strip them of anything of value. They then sell the house with forged documents to an unsuspecting buyer. They were also found in possession of a list of five other homes in the Durban North area that were also unoccupied,” he said. 

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Captain Raymond Deokaran, spokesperson for the Durban North SAPS confirmed the suspects would appear in court later this week

“This was a good collaborative effort between all stakeholders and two of the suspects have been charged. They are facing charges of housebreaking and theft of a motor vehicle,” he said. 

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