PROWLING criminals appear to be targeting residential homes, as well as vehicles, in Southport, Sea Park and surrounding areas.
Thieves also broke into a shop in Sunwich Port last week.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Zandra Wiid said police had noticed with concern an increase in housebreakings in the Southport and Sea Park areas.
She said thieves had gained entry through the roof of the shop in Sunwich Port and fled with cash, cigarettes and airtime vouchers.
Lt-Col Wiid said police had recorded housebreakings in the Sea Park area. “Most of the time the perpetrators gain entry by forcing open sliding doors or bending away burglar guards,” she said.
Lt-Col Wiid said there was also an incident where a vehicle, which was parked outside a premises, had been broken into and a Garmin GPS and a bag stolen from the vehicle.
She said there had been more than one incident of theft out of motor vehicle in the Southport area.
“Vehicles were broken into and items such as tools stolen out of vehicle. The rims and tyres of one vehicle were also removed,” she explained.
She confirmed that no arrests had been made as yet.
Lt-Col Wiid stressed that residents should not leave valuables in vehicles. “Pack all your belongings away and, if possible, install security lights outside to be switched on during the night,” she said.
She said residents should also report defective street lights, overgrown verges and bushy areas to the local authorities and to insist they be repaired and cleared.
“Much of Southport and Sea Park is very bushy and thus a perfect hideaway for criminals,” she said.
The cluster commander, Major General Thembi Ndlovu expressed her concern about the high number of housebreakings in the area and has issued instructions to her officers to address the matter.
Hibiscus Coast Municipality’s spokesman Simon Soboyisa said that there had been some challenges in regard to the appointment of the contractor as the previous contractor’s contract had expired.
He said this had been addressed and anticipated that the backlogs would also be addressed.
