HILLCREST police are investigating a house robbery that took place in Valley Drive in the Forest Hills, Waterfall area on Wednesday, 24 January at 1pm.
Captain Lindzi Smith, communications officer at Hillcrest SAPS said it is believed the robber entered the house through the kitchen door.
ALSO READ: Two men arrested for attempted housebreaking in Hillcrest
She said the complainant was sitting in her office when she heard her domestic worker talking to a man in the kitchen. She got up and went to the passage and realised it was an intruder. That’s when she saw an unknown man with a knife.
“The man demanded cash and jewellery. The complainant kept saying she did not have any and he kept demanding saying that he was hungry and would kill them if she did not give him money. He then took them from room to room where he proceeded to take items – an iPhone 6, two laptops and an iPod, to the value of R44 000. He then left the house through the kitchen door,” said Smith.
Fortunately no one was injured however police noted that the robber gained entry through the kitchen door which was left open. Smith said this is the second house robbery this week where both houses had their doors left open.
Smith said there had been an increase of housebreaking and house robberies in the Hillcrest area. She urged the public to be more vigilant by putting equipment and items like bicycles etc away and not visible in the yards.
ALSO READ: Malvern SAPS offer safety tips for your car and home | Highway Mail
“At night, keep security gates locked if leaving doors open. Our theft reports are also on the increase as items are in full view and are precipitating factors in allowing perpetrators to come onto properties and take these items including garden furniture. If doors and security gates are left open, it allows easy access,” said Smith.
She added that another tip is to try and keep the entrance to the property and fencing clear of shrubs and bushes allowing more visibility and more lighting. She also urged residents to ensure their houses are numbered properly as its difficult to attend to crime scenes or respond to them if houses don’t have numbers clearly marked.
Do you want to receive alerts regarding this and other Highway community news via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
