Durban - House burglars are resorting to smash-and-grab raids – sometimes in the dead of the night while the occupants are sleeping – in a new tactic that is terrifying home owners on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
Housebreaking gangs are making off with electronic goods by smashing the centre pane of windows, which generally do not have burglar guards, and fleeing with the loot within a minute.
George Snodey, a volunteer crime fighter with the Community Crime Prevention Organisation in the eManzimtoti area, said that in the past month, there had been at least seven incidents where the gangs had smashed through the centre glass window, while the home owners were asleep, and made off with television sets.
“It does not seem as if they want a lot of things. They’re just after one big item like a plasma TV and before you know it, they are gone.”
The latest incident occurred early on Thursday while Warner Beach resident, Whitey Branders and his wife were asleep.
The burglars made off with a plasma television by smashing through their bedroom window, just metres from where they were sleeping.
“It was around 3am in the morning when what must have been a sixth sense woke me up. As I opened my eyes I heard a crash and saw the centre window break into pieces,” said Branders. “Then I saw arms come through the window and grab my TV.”
Branders said he tried going after the burglars but could not catch them.
“There must have been at least two of them. The whole thing took less than a minute.”
Branders said the men had used a pick that he had left in his yard to smash the window.
“They broke the one portion of my window that did not have any burglar bars. What was shocking was the audacity of the whole thing.
“I was sleeping in the very same room that they decided to smash through. They made no clever attempt to break in. It was just about smashing and grabbing,” he said.
“They obviously have no fear or regard. It looks like they want to be in and out there within minutes.”
Just days before, Branders said a neighbour across the road had had a similar hit.
“They are after the easy pickings, a TV or a laptop that is lying around.”
Police spokesman, Major Thulani Zwane said eManzimtoti detectives were looking into the incident.
“The police are still investigating and no arrest has been made. We cannot confirm whether such modus operandi is commonly used but we appeal to residents to take extra precautions to safeguard their houses,” he said.
Daily News