Gangs allegedly target PCs
Gangs of tech robbers are believed to be behind a series of computer thefts targeting local businesses.
FOUR gangs are believed to be responsible for a series of robberies in the Highway area since December 2014.
Ian Colls, the co-director of an IT anti-theft security device company, reported that the alleged gangs have been targeting companies’ computers, LCD plasma monitors and laptops.
“We have received reports of 75 break-ins since December 2013. The reports as well as CCTV footage and eye witness accounts were used to determine that there are four gangs. It is the highest report of break-ins that we have observed since 2010,” said Colls.
According to Colls, the data is dispatched to security companies, to provide them with “proactive crime fighting measures”.
This week alone two companies were targeted in Pinetown. On Monday 31 March, at approximately 6am, a digital printing and design company in Sandy’s Centre was broken into, but the thieves were forced to flee empty handed, as the computers and monitors were protected by computer safes and anti-theft cables.
The company suffered heavy losses 11 days prior to Monday’s robbery, when seven computers and monitors were stolen.
“They definitely knew what they were doing. They bypassed the alarm and the 24 hour security on both occasions,” said Ian Muir, the owner.
A document solutions company on Myrtle Road was also targeted on Friday 4 April at approximately 5.30am.
The thieves were once again thwarted after they set off a pepper spray alarm. Mark Valentine, the general manager, reported that it was the first break-in they experienced in more than a year.
In both incidents, the brazen thieves broke in through the front door.
Pinetown SAPS communications officer, Lt Bongumusa Manqele, said that the Pinetown SAPS had not responded to a lot of computer related break-ins in the last few months.
“There has not been an increase in reports of such cases and we are not aware of any alleged syndicates in the Pinetown area,” said Manqele.
Lt France Mkhize, the communications officer for Hillcrest SAPS, said, “We have received a slight increase in reports in computer related thefts. I cannot, however, confirm that there are gangs or a syndicate behind the thefts,” said Mkhize.
He also reported that the thieves have not only targeted companies. Residents and schools have also fallen victim to the thefts.
