Vosman Police Station reported that they were concerned about the widespread house robberies in their policing areas.
Vosman Police Station communication officer Captain Klaas Maloka said station commander Brigadier Makhosazana Kheswa raised his concern with the latest development. He said the robberies occurred between 01:00 and 04:00.
In most cases it was reported that plasma television, cell phones, money and valuable items were taken at gun point and inside the houses. In one of the cases a woman was raped as well inside her house.
The community is requested to consider the following points as critical to avoid house robberies:
*Don’t leave windows, doors, burglar doors, gates, and garage doors opened at night
* Don’t leave windows, doors, burglar doors, gates and garage doors opened during the day if you are alone at home
*Don’t open doors for strangers
*Don’t open doors for known persons who did not inform you in advance of his or her visit during the day or night
*Don’t open a door for a person who claims to be a police officer
*Don’t open doors for any person who says he or she is coming to repair anything or are from the labour department, SABC or other organisations you do not know of.
*Don’t permit any entrance to a beggar into your yard or house
*Don’t open doors to hawkers known or unknown especially when you are alone at home
*Don’t open doors to job seekers especially if you are alone at home.
Other signs police are warning the public to watch for:
* “Z” painted on a stop sign or on the road – houses in street targeted for burglary.
* Pile of little stones – warns of dogs
* Two big stones together – two old people
* Stones in a row – indicates how many people in the house
* Swastika painted on road – houses in street targeted for burglary.
* Direction of the Swastika indicates which house is the target.
* Coke tin, red cloth, crisp packet etc – can expect resistance.
* 2 Coke tins indicates the owner is armed.
* Coke tin opening towards the house – someone is home.
* Upright Coke tin – nobody home.
* White sorghum carton, plastic bag – easy target.
* Sorghum carton facing towards house – target marked.
* White plastic bag on fence – easy target.
* Green was used as a direction marker.
* The direction that a bottle pointed indicated the direction the criminals should proceed.
* Blue and/or blue and white: Clicks packets, etc – easy target and someone inside will help.
* Simba (or Lays) chip packets were normally neatly folded, but sometimes weighed down by something inside the packet.
* Crisp packet facing the house – owner at home.
* Crisp packet facing the road – no-one home.
* Shoes and soles near or by the gate – no-one home and direction of the shoes indicates the escape route.
* Wrong numbers on your house or cell phone – checking if you are home.
* If electricity is off at the main box be aware of leaving the house open as people inside are targets.
* Sudden strange items in front of a house like a cardboard box, bricks, tree branch – do not stop to remove or you will be a target.
* Brick – normally indicates a car to be stolen.
* Two or three bricks (normally new bricks) – house robbery planned.
* The police advise home-owners to immediately remove and dispose of all markers and to keep pavements neat and tidy.
* Poisoning: If a dog dies suddenly or vomits, check for black specks in the vomit or white powder near the dog. Report all dog poisonings to the SAPS who MUST give you a case number.
* Listen to your barking dog.
* Kiewiets (and geese) are excellent watch dogs. They sound the alarm when a human encroaches on their territory. Become aware of their various calls.
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