PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Residents and visitors in the usually sleepy village of Nature's Valley have been warned to be vigilant after an apparent increase in burglaries in the area.
The warning comes from Fidelity ADT, a security company that operates within the area, following what they have described as an increase in call-outs to the area. Garden Route branch manager Steven Green said most of these incidents included the modus operandi of suspects gaining access through the roofs or balconies of the targeted properties.
During the most recent incident, he said, a suspect was apprehended when an armed response officer reacted to an alarm signal from a home in Forest Drive.
Upon arrival, officer Xolani Namba investigated the property and noticed a suspect fleeing towards the garden. Namba immediately called for backup and chased after the suspect. The suspect was successfully apprehended and handed over to local police.
Green added that a perimeter check confirmed that the suspect attempted to gain entry into the property through a backdoor on the balcony.
"We were able to respond quickly, thanks to the fact that the property had a properly working alarm system. I urge residents to make sure their systems are tested regularly – especially if there is a change in weather or if there were any building alterations done. Residents are also advised to ensure that their alarm system is always armed," Green said.
"If people are away from their properties for extended periods of time, please make sure that your security company has up-to-date contact details for people they can call in an emergency at your home. It is also important for residents to be on the lookout for suspicious activity in their streets, and to contact the authorities immediately if anything seems out of place."
This trend emerging in Nature's Valley was recently experienced in Plettenberg Bay itself.
Plettenberg Bay police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse said most of the burglaries reported in Nature's Valley involved suspects forcing open doors.
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