A resident was shot twice after three suspects gained entry into his home, which is in an access-controlled community.
On 11 August, at midnight, three suspects tripped an alarm at a man’s home on Yvette Close in Robin Hills; they then hid on top of the roof. According to the victim’s son, Gavin Attwell, “My father went outside to check what was going on but didn’t see anything and went back inside.”
The three suspects managed to remove a window without breaking it and entered the family home. “They went from room to room until they got to my parent’s bedroom,” said Attwell.
According to Linden police spokesperson, Captain Walter Spencer, “The victim managed to activate the Trojan Security panic button and was then shot once in the arm and once in the stomach.”
The three suspects only stole a camera. “My mother called me and I rushed over to their home; I was basically first on the scene because the security was waiting outside the gate.” He rushed his father to Netcare Olivedale hospital and his father was safely released on 17 August.
Spencer warns residents that regardless of how safe their community is, an opportunity for a crime to be committed is ever prevalent. Yvette Close is one of the many streets within an access-controlled area. Attwell said the suspects may have gained entry into the house by climbing over a wall from a house that is outside the secured area.
Lara Bath, Linden CPF chairperson, elaborated on the difference between a boomed-off community and a completely closed-off area.
“A boomed-off area must have a 24-hour security guard present, while closed-off areas often use intercoms, have high walls and are closed off completely.”
Bath expressed the necessity that residents must check that their security company has an ISR model. This is intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance model. Bath stated, “Crime has evolved, but has your security company evolved?”
This briefly means that all security guards, including street guards, need to be connected to a control room and a response car, by a radio activated system. Bath elaborated that each person on that street should be questioned so that they know they are being watched.
“This acts as an excellent deterrent to any suspecting criminals.” The ISR model ensures that the security company knows as much information as possible about its sector. For example:
- What time does the garden service arrive and who are they?
- Where are the hiding areas, substations, park areas and hotspots in your street;
- How many high-risk homes are on the street?
- Where are Polo and Hilux vehicles parked?
- Who will know the patterns of the area or street ,like number of cars, walkers, post, refuse pick-up and metre-reading times?
“Even if you are in a access-controlled house, do the right thing and keep alarm systems and security companies updated,” said Spencer. Many times, homes in these areas are very isolated and have a false sense of security. “A good system, with security and the community will help prevent crimes from occurring,” he warned.
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