In the past two weeks, the Edenvale SAPS has noticed a new crime trend in Edenvale.
According to the Edenvale SAPS spokesperson, Captain Jean Olckers, the new crime trend sees residential burglaries turning into assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH). It then escalates to robberies.
He said a group of two to three suspects enter residential properties unarmed in order to commit a burglary, by either climbing over the wall or forcing a gate open.
Once inside the property, suspects realise that the house owners are home and pick up a brick or a loose object from the property.
“The suspects then proceed to assault the house owner with the object they picked up on the property and then proceed to rob the house,” said Capt Olckers
Capt Olckers said that two incidents of this nature have been reported and in both instances firearms were not used by the suspects.
Colonel Robbie Roberts, the acting station commander of the Edenvale Police Station, said house owners need to be aware when they are at home.
He said house owners need to make sure that their alarm systems and panic buttons work.
“If house owners feel unsafe they should ask their security provider or the sector vehicle to do more patrols in their area.” said Col Roberts.
If community members notice suspicious behaviour in their neighborhood they should contact the Edenvale SAPS.
Col Roberts said examples of suspicious behaviour include:
- Â People looking over the walls of a property to see what is happening inside the property.
- Â Individuals walking around the neighborhood or sitting in a parked vehicle with no apparent reason to be in the area.
Contact 10111 or the sector vehicle numbers:
- Â Sector 1 – 071 675 6841.
- Â Sector 2 – 071 675 6842.
- Â Sector 3 – 071 675 6843.
- Â Sector 4 – 071 675 6844.
