Gunshots ring through Ballito Drive as reaction officer zeroes-in on burglars
In a separate incident at The Circle Business Centre, a stationery store was broken into around the same time.
Shots rang through Ballito Drive early this morning when an IPSS Electronic Security reaction officer responded to an attempted break-in along the road.
It was around 3am as he zeroed in on the property, slowing down and turning off his vehicle lights as he approached under the cover of darkness hoping to catch the intruders unaware.
“When our reaction officer arrived at the non-client’s property he was shot at by two armed men,” said IPSS Electronic Security’s Brennon Knott.
The men fled the property on foot with the officer following after them, also on foot, while being shot at and returning fire.
Residents living in the area reported hearing multiple shots.
At this time, the officer had called for back-up and they attempted to cordon off the area in the hope of catching the two men.
According to Knott, the men scaled numerous property walls in order to escape.
Ballito Drive resident, Jean Painter said he heard a total of 8 shots being fired, the first of which immediately woke him.
Painter said that when he went out to check on things properly later that morning he noticed that the gate to the property had been damaged and he suspects that the men may have attempted to flee through their property.
Neighbours reported an increase in criminal activity and called on police to increase patrols.
In a separate incident at The Circle Business Centre, a stationery store was broken into around the same time.
Can-nor staff confirmed that a number of men stole computer screens from the business after breaking the glass door to enter the premises.
The men then fled by car.
Ballito UIP security manager, Dieter Fittkau said that they were investigating but believed that the business break-in and Ballito Drive break-in were not connected.
iLembe Chamber of Commerce CEO, Cobus Oelofse said while opportunistic criminals would always remain a risk, Ballito Business Park was one of the safer nodes with business break-ins and robberies being a rare occurrence.
“The Chamber will continue to work with all safety and security stakeholders in the district to ensure that a collaborative approach overcomes any capacity constraints that might exist,” he said, further urging business owners to remain vigilant.
