Amanzimtoti has enjoyed a relatively quiet week crime-wise.
The Community Crime Prevention Organisation (CCPO) believes it could be the result of sustained pressure put on criminals.
On 18 October the CCPO, Blue Security and ET Rapid Response officers chased and apprehended three men who robbed a business in Toti CBD. The stolen money and two firearms were recovered.
The following day response officers chased housebreakers who attempted to break into a Dick King Road premises in Athlone Park.
In both incidents, shots were fired at the chasing officers.
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On Thursday, 26 October there was an attempted housebreaking in Vasco Da Gama Drive in Shulton Park. While officers were searching for the suspects, they were breaking into another premises. Blue Security arrived at the premises and saw the suspects flee. Officers tried to cordon off the area, but due to the terrain the suspects managed to escape.
ET Rapid Response and Toti SAPS were on the way to assist the CCPO when another call came in for a housebreaking in progress in Mount Road. A search was conducted inside the house, where a suspect was found hiding in a cupboard by ET reaction officer, Ashley Naidoo.
Housebreakers have also been chased by reaction officers after they attempted to break into premises in Tecoma Place and Illovo Beach on two separate occassions last week.
READ ALSO: Crime network recovers stolen car in Amanzimtoti
On Friday, 27 October a thief who had stolen a gas bottle was chased by the CCPO. He was spotted carrying it in Old Main Road by a passerby, who alerted the CCPO. He managed to escape but the bottle was recovered and handed in at Toti SAPS.
“We want to warn residents to continue to be vigilant and not let their guard down,” said CCPO committee member, George Snodey. “We feel strongly that this continued pressure on criminals and continuously chasing them is telling and has contributed to the number of incidents being lower recently.
If you are not a CCPO client, you need to join. It’s imperative we grow it to something massive like our own army, otherwise we are on a hiding to nothing.”
If you are a CCPO client, ensure you have the emergency number 083-393-5066 on hand. To join, call the CCPO office on 031-903-7037 or George on 083-655-4302.
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