Unlocked doors attract thieves

DURBAN North residents have been warned to keep garage doors locked and thieves out after a string of burglaries in the area. Blue Security managing director, Darryn le Grange, said there were several incidents reported in Durban North last week where thieves escaped with valuables after residents had left doors and garages unlocked.

“In an incident in High Grove in Umgeni Park a suspect jumped over the electric fence in broad daylight, entered the unlocked outside quarters and fled with a laptop and a cellphone,” le Grange said.

He added there were two separate incidents reported in La Lucia where thieves entered an unlocked spare room and garage and fled with an iPod and tools.

“In Belgrave Crescent in Durban North burglars jumped over the property fence and stole two bicycles from an open garage. Thieves jumped over the wall of a property in Monteith Place and stole a GPS from a vehicle parked in the yard and a mountain bike from the unlocked garage.”

Le Grange urged residents to be vigilant about keeping garages closed and locked and external doors secured.

“Especially now that school holidays have started and everyone is starting to unwind it can be easy to relax our guard when it comes to security. But this is unfortunately a time of the year when criminals are most vigilant and on the prowl to find items they can steal and sell for their own gain.

“An open garage door and an unlocked outbuilding is a huge temptation for opportunistic criminals who see this as an easy route to grab a few valuables and get away without the trouble of having to break in,” he said.