Spike in home break-ins

Reservoir Hill, Hospital Park, Francis Road and Hunter Road have all seen a spike in house break-ins  over the last week or so… Observation Hill to a smaller degree, say police.

While the number has not reached pandemic proportions, the number is high enough to blip on the police’s radar as a “cause for concern”.

Police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig has warned residents to ensure that gates, doors and garages are properly secured. A lot of the break-ins target garages.

Also, she appealed to homeowners not to ignore their dogs when they bark. Several cases of owners ignoring their dog’s barking only to discover neighbours’ or their own garages had been broken into have been reported.

“Basically, we are not asking you to go out and risk your life, but put on an outside light the moment your dogs start barking, or even all the lights in your house can make a difference,” she added. “Just do not try and play hero,” she warned. “If in doubt or you see something, call the police on 10111.”

In a recent robbery, the entire contents of a man’s garage – including heavy compressors, welding equipment and hundreds of tools – were stolen without anyone in the house waking up.

A doctor’s surgery was also broken into, as well as the Bulldogs clubhouse.