A number of housebreakers found themselves behind bars this week, thanks to the Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO).
“Early on Monday morning, 16 January, a woman living in Ocean View Road in Winklespruit heard someone open her garage door.
On inspection she found an intruder in her garage. When he saw he had been seen, he fled,” said CCPO committee member, George Snodey.
The home owner gave the CCPO a description of the man and a search of the area failed to come up with a suspect.
Almost an hour later, CCPO committee member, Paul O’Neil, who lives in close proximity to that residence, saw a man who matched the description walk past his gate.
The CCPO were again notified and the man was seen running into a nearby property.
The area was cordoned off by the CCPO, Blue Security, ET Rapid Response and available CCPO committee members.
CCPO and Blue Security patrol officer, Mbuyiselo ‘Triple M’ Mdunjane and a few CCPO guards went in search of the man and Triple M found him hiding. He was taken to Toti SAPS where he was charged for housebreaking.
In a separate incident the same day, the CCPO received a report at about 6am of a housebreaking that had occurred in Louis Botha Drive in Amanzimtoti.
“Blue Security officers were on the hunt for the housebreaker, along with a large contingent of CCPO staff.
They found him in Lewis Drive carrying some items and on closer investigation, identified the stolen items as the ones stolen from Louis Drive Drive,” said Snodey.
The man was detained and taken to Toti SAPS, where he was charged with housebreaking.
In the early hours of Thursday, 12 January, two premises were targeted by intruders.
“In both the incidents, large windows were smashed and the housebreakers gained entry, stealing and plundering items,” said Snodey.
In a home invasion in Arnold Hunt, the home owner ran to the lounge where his large window had been smashed, and confronted the housebreakers.
This did not deter the criminals, who then threw bricks at the resident in an effort to chase him away.
They eventually got in and stole a plasma TV before fleeing.
“This modus operandi has been in regular use in that area and some intelligence work was done by the CCPO and residents in Clifton Mews in Poinsettia Drive, who have had about seven similar incidents in the last few weeks.
The information given to Clifton Mews residents was very similar to information given to the CCPO, indicating the criminals lived in a residence in Lovu Township.
Instructions were given to all CCPO staff that as soon as a call comes in for a housebreaking in that area where a window had been smashed, to head for the identified escape routes and sit and wait in ambush,” said Snodey.
It wasn’t long before CCPO supervisor, Michael Mkhize and his crewman saw two men approach from that direction.
They were approached with one man apprehended, but the other fled.
A scuffle ensued with the apprehended man, but after a short while he was subdued, handcuffed and taken to Toti SAPS with all the stolen property found on him.
Later that day at about noon, a complaint came in to the CCPO regarding garden furniture that was stolen in Dan Pienaar Drive.
A thorough search of the area was done by the CCPO, Blue Security and Chubb Security.
A Blue Response officer managed to locate the robber in Blaze Way, carrying the chairs.
He along with the stolen property was taken to Toti SAPS.
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