PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Residents are being urged to keep their eyes peeled after three crimes struck the town in the span of only a few hours last week.

Lisa Nagel from Plett.Watch – the town's neighbourhood watch group – said the criminal activity occurred in Main and Langdown streets as well as Julia Avenue and included a vehicle burglary, a home invasion and an intruder attempting to enter a home. 

The first two incidents took place at about 22:00 last Thursday (17 August) night while the third at about 03:00 on Friday morning.

Nagel said during the home invasion two suspects pried open burglar bars and entered the home in Langdown Street while the residents were sleeping. 

"They were disturbed by a noise and upon checking, were faced by two suspects armed with knives," Nagel said.

She added that the couple remained calm and did not antagonise the suspects who proceeded to grab what they could before leaving the scene. 

"Fidelity ADT and police were quickly on scene and assisted the victims. A knife was dropped in the garden which the police will do DNA tests on and hopefully identify the criminals."

According to Nagel during another incident a homeowner in Julia Avenue was awoken by the sound of a door opening on the property. Security officers responded and searched the property. "It appears as if the suspect was disturbed by the homeowner waking up, and left the property."

The incident in Main Street was a vehicle burglary. "We cannot reiterate enough that valuables should not be left in vehicles, and particularly not in plain sight. Often the cost of repairs to a vehicle is more than the cost of the stolen items."

Nagel urged victims of crime to report any incidents to police and follow up on progress. "If you drop the case, the criminal is free to commit more crimes. The more charges against a criminal, the longer their sentences will become, effectively getting them off the streets." Local police confirmed the three incidents.

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