IT is believed that a gang of ten armed men have been targeting and looting businesses in Durban in recent weeks.
One business in Glen Anil and another in Umbilo have reportedly been targeted by the gang thus far.
“Ten robbers, five of them armed with firearms, broke into the yard of business premises in Columbine Road in Glen Anil where they then assaulted and tied up two security guards on site. The guards sustained minor injuries,” said Brian Jackson, Blue Security operations manager.
After disposing of the guards, the suspects used an iron tool to smash the rear brick wall of a warehouse and subsequently fled with a stash of copper cables.
In Umbilo, on Gale Street, a gang of ten men struck in broad daylight, said Jackson. They removed the perimeter fencing and threatened the on sight security guard, before fleeing the scene with scrap and roof sheeting.
At this stage it is unclear whether it was the same gang that had targeted the businesses, but the modus operandi appears to be very similar.
Jackson advised business owners to install anti-gate crashing sensors and external electric fencing, linked to an alarm for an early warning, intruder detection system.
“Even if there are vigilant security guards posted on-site an early warning system will at least buy them time to call for help and to alert your security company’s armed response division to the emergency,” he said.
Greenwood Park SAPS, who responded to the Glen Anil incident, could not be reached for comment.
