Concerned resident Chris Govender worried about a crime that occurred at his complex situated in Ferndale.
During the early morning of 10 June, three men driving a white Hyundai ix35 allegedly jumped the wall of a complex on Surrey Avenue to attempt to steal cars. In a provided video, suspects are seen finding a white Polo Vivo that they were able to steal within seconds before tampering with the complex’s gate motor to perform a speedy getaway. The complex’s security company responded within minutes, but as the steal was so speedy, the suspects got away with their loot.
According to Govender, suspects attempted to steal a car in the complex once again on 23 June but were unsuccessful.”This is a very scary thing to happen, and we as residents are worried. I hope that this does not occur in other complexes near us and that our community can be vigilant of this.” Randburg Police Station spokesperson Captain Makgowanyana Maja said that the issue of car theft as a result of gate motor tampering and sabotage continues to be a problem in the area. “It is very much a problem that our officers are working tirelessly to deal with. Merely having an alarm system as a deterrent is not enough, you need to ensure that it is operational and connected at all times to armed response with panic buttons.”
Maja urged the following safety precautions residents and complexes can take to avoid residents falling victim to criminals at their gates:
- Residents should install alarms on their gates and have them linked to their alarm systems.
- Make sure your alarm system is functioning.n Always observe your surroundings when driving in or out of your property.
- Make sure that nothing is hindering your sensors on your gate or any suspicious items around
- Be aware that some suspects pretend to be meter readers to gain access to the property. Ascertain first before you open the gate.
- Do not underestimate suspicious movement on your street. You might be robbed of your motor vehicle or your gate may be tampered with immediately after you leave so that the potential criminal can enter your property.
- Report any suspicious movements to the police or security.
Maja added that many private security companies have a device available for their customers that sense tampering on your gate, sending a silent alert to your security provider before you even know you are being burgled. This sort of device can be a wise investment for private residences and body corporates, and residents should check with their security provider if a device like this is available.
