PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS – Poortjies, a neighbourhood along the lagoon in Plettenberg Bay, became the target of a crime spree over the Christmas and New Year period.
Most of the focus was on boats moored at the lagoon. Thieves not only stole engines, batteries and petrol tanks, but also vandalised some to such an extent that the vessels were completely destroyed.
One family fell victim four times in less than a week. During the latest incident on 2 January, the family's inflatable boat was destroyed in the early hours of the morning and its outboard motor stolen while it was moored at the lagoon.
The same boat went missing the week before, but was found pulled onto the beach near Lookout Beach. On New Year's Day the family found that two of their boats' batteries and petrol tanks had been stolen.
A Land Rover belonging to the same family was broken into by smashing a window while it was parked in the road in Phitidis Walk in Poortjies, and thieves made off with tools and other items. Other residents and visitors reported similar incidents over the period. Local police confirmed the incidents.
Some of the damaged caused when thieves targeted boats moored at the Poortjies lagoon in Plettenberg Bay. Photos: Supplied
Lisa Nagel of Plett.Watch, a local neighbourhood watch group, confirmed that various reports had been made to authorities about vandalism and theft from boats in the area. She encouraged all affected persons to report the matters to police.
"There was quite a bit of opportunistic crimes in the area over the festive period, including the issues around boats being targeted around the lagoon area," Nagel said.
She said a meeting with the community and various authorities will be held in the near future to discuss a way forward, but that Bitou law enforcement is in the meantime keeping an eye on Poortjies and removing vagrants from the area.
Nagel used the opportunity to warn residents and visitors to always ensure that they take precautions to avoid falling victim to criminals by securing their property and never leaving any valuables where thieves could get a glimpse of it, among others.
Some of the damaged caused when thieves targeted boats moored at the Poortjies lagoon in Plettenberg Bay. Photos: Supplied
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