Quick-thinking community members foil attempted house break-in

THE Montclair and Clairwood residents are calling on their neighbours to join community crime-fighting initiatives in a concerted effort to combat rising crime rates.

The collective plea comes in the wake of the apprehension of a man suspected of perpetrating a series of residential burglaries who was apprehended by the members of the Montclair Sub-Forum recently.

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It is alleged that the suspect tried to gain entry into a residence adjacent to the railway line, only to be thwarted by the swift actions of the homeowners.

One of the residents, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the harrowing encounter and urged fellow citizens to bolster home security measures to deter potential criminals.

“We spotted him attempting to scale the fence near the church. Reacting promptly, my husband and his brother chased the suspect in their vehicle. The chase led towards the nearby informal settlement, compelling my husband to abandon the car and continue the pursuit on foot,” she said.

The suspect was found inside one of the shacks.

She said the suspect has broken into their home three times, stealing valuables on each occasion.

“Apart from these incidents, we’ve never encountered trouble before. I urge the public to fortify their residences with adequate security measures to avoid falling victim to crime. At our home, we’ve installed a comprehensive CCTV surveillance system. As members of the sub-forum, we remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding our community,” she said.

Chairperson for the Montwood Community Police Sub-Forum, Kevin Govender, confirmed the incident and said the Montclair SAPS were informed and the suspect was handed to the police.

Attempts to get a statement from the Montclair SAPS were unsuccessful at the time of going to press.

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