CRIME always spikes at year-end, but the ‘wave’ seems to have hit early.
In fact, judging by nearly a dozen cases reported in the district this past week, ‘tsunami’ is probably a more apt description.
Police and security companies are already run off their feet and they are urging residents to take every precaution as they predict it will only get worse.
Included in incidents reported this past week are:
Armed robberies at the Park Rynie Spot-On Liquor Store, Total Garage, Roseneath tikka outlet (in which a cop was involved), Umzinto Garage, Renishaw Umdoni offices and a hijacking in the Sezela area.
Sources claim that this is merely the tip of the iceberg, with unconfirmed reports of numerous housebreaking cases as well.
A Spot On Liquors employee confirmed on Saturday that three men had robbed the outlet of an undisclosed sum of cash and a bottle of wine.
The employee speculated that it was the same group of robbers which had hit a hair salon the week before.
Sunday followed, and with it the armed robbery at the Park Rynie Total Garage.
“At about 10.50pm a man armed with a pistol entered the convenience store and held up the staff while two of his accomplices – also armed with guns – forced all the petrol attendants into the store,” said Scottburgh SAPS communications officer, Captain Vincent Pandarum.
They fled on foot with an undisclosed sum of money.
On Monday at 5.10pm, an employee at JVR Fuel Depot in Umzinto was cashing up the day’s takings when two men burst in. One drew a gun, demanding the employee hand over the takings.
Tragically, in a separate robbery case, a female police officer was shot and killed in a shoot-out with robbers following an ATM bombing at Boxer wholesalers in Ixopo early Tuesday morning.
A second Boxer wholesalers was hit in Jolivet at about 6.45am by four men armed with an AK 47 rifle and pistols.
They held up the security guard and the manager and forced them to open the safe.
They then fled with an undisclosed sum of money in a black Mercedes Benz.
Anyone with information is urged to contact their nearest police station, or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
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