Amanzimtoti police disappoints Athlone Park residents

AN Athlone Park resident is irate at the Amanzimtoti SAPS’ response and treatment following a house breaking at her property, on Thursday, 20 June, at 5am.

Making the emergency call while an intruder was in her house, it was only two hours later and after numerous calls made by neighbours that Toti SAPS officers arrived on the scene.

Some five break-ins took place over the last few months in this area and a resident was also held up at their gate. Shamrock Road residents Georgina and her husband, Alan Riley, are very disappointed with the manner in which their case was handled by the police.

“I always lock the bedroom door from the inside in case of a situation like as this,” explained Georgina. “Around 5am I heard someone trying to open the door of the bedroom. I thought it was my husband, who was in a different room in the house. I called him to ask him if he was trying to open the door. When he said ‘no’, I realised that there was an intruder in the house.”

Georgina pressed the panic button and called both 10111 and Toti SAPS immediately. The windows were wide open, the lights on and the TV and laptop were gone, along with the intruder.

Blue Security and National Security (previously named Chubb) arrived at the house. The TV and a backpack, with towels and a screwdriver inside (suspected to belong to the intruder), were found near to the wall where bushes were cut back, allowing the intruder access. The electric fence had also been tampered with.

“When the police arrived around 7am, I was told that they only have one vehicle, and were without it at the time I called,” said Georgina. “I am very disappointed with the police.”

CCTV footage, clearly shows the criminal, very nonchalantly, enter the home, remove the laptop and then come back for the TV. He was inside the house for 10 minutes. He was wearing light-coloured overalls, a brimless head covering and gloves.

“We have an inadequate police presence in our town. People need to educate themselves and become aware of how criminals operate. People need to take it upon themselves to protect themselves,” said Georgina.

The Rileys’ stolen laptop is an HP Elite Book, 3770W. If you have information regarding the discovery or reselling of this laptop, contact the South Coast Sun on 031-903-2341 immediately.

Amanzimtoti SAPS’ Lt Col Kitching, explained that vehicles are available unless it’s sent in for mechanical repairs.

“Manpower differs from time to time and shift to shift, due to members taking leave, booking off sick and being sent on courses. Vehicles are allocated yearly to different components and shortfalls are identified and addressed,” she said.

“Shift change is at 5:45am and 5:45pm, when members are reporting and paraded. Equipment is checked and inspected as per handing over and members deployed according to the commander’s postings,” she said. The Rileys questioned the presence of a K9 unit in Amanzimtoti and why it wasn’t used in this instance, to track the criminal’s escape route.

Kitching said that Toti does not have its own K9 unit.

“The K9 unit is situated at the old airport and services eight police station areas within the cluster. They are called upon when needed and if available,” she said. The police had not given a reason why they were two hours late by the time of going to print.

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