Gang suspected of terrorising upper Highway residents

A WIDE scale investigation is under way to capture men believed to be part of a house robbery gang harassing residents in the upper Highway area.

Enforce Security’s private investigators are investigating the activities of a house robbery gang believed to be operating in the upper Highway and Outer West areas after a Forest Hills couple was held up at gunpoint on Friday, 27 February.

At about 2.30am the Kloof View Road residents alerted the security company  that they had been held up.
The couple reported that three men forced open the driveway gate and entered their home through an unlocked kitchen door. They were tied up and held at gunpoint by one of the men while the other two ransacked the house.

Jewellery, four cellphones and their ATM cards were taken. One of the robbers then drove the husband to an ATM and demanded he withdraw R5000. His car, a gold Toyota Camry, was also stolen, but was later recovered by private investigators and the Metro Police at the KwaDabeka Shell Garage.

Nico Potgieter, head of investigations at Enforce, said the gang used the same modus operandi as one which had been operating the past two or three months in the upper Highway, Outer West, and Chatsworth areas.

“Although some members of the gang had already been arrested, the others appear to have regrouped and continued committing crimes,” he said.

Potgieter warned residents to be vigilant at all times, and to not go outside when they heard noises or their dogs were barking, especially at night and early in the morning.

“The robbers create noise outside, or make dogs bark. As soon as the resident opens the door and goes outside to investigate, they hold him up and rob the house. If you do hear noises, rather call your security company or the SAPS,” he said.

In the event of being held up, Potgieter said people should remain calm and cooperate with robbers. They should not startle them either.

“If you are able to press a panic button without them seeing you, then do that, as long as it is a silent panic. If it will activate the house alarm do not do it as it will startle them and this could make them aggressive.

They often also tell people not to look at them, but try to get as much a description of them as possible while still following their instructions. Take note of the clothes they are wearing or any physical markings such as scars or tattoos,” Potgieter said.