PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - It is believed that a new group of criminals have been active in Plettenberg Bay, targeting firearm owners.
Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) chair Bruce Richardson said although the past month generally had subdued levels of criminal activity compared to recent years, there had been a few exceptions.
“Crime in the Keurbooms River area, which has been quiet in recent times, has escalated,” Richardson said.
He said in one incident three firearms had been stolen. “It appears that the premises with firearms had been specifically targeted with access gained through the roof.
He added that very heavy items had been removed during the burglary including a safe as well as an entire fridge with contents.
During another incident, in Rugby Drive, another three firearms were stolen. Two of these firearms have subsequently been recovered.
'Considerable violence used'
“It appears that we have a new group in our area as crimes of his nature are not typical of Bitou and some aspects have not previously been experienced in our area.”
He added that in six incidents over the past six weeks, including the incidents involving the stolen firearms, access had been gained through the roofs of the affected homes.
Richardson said considerable violence – chopping open a safe with an axe – had been used in the incidents which could have caused considerable noise. “We all need to be alert to and react to strange noises within our area and call the PBCPA helpline and report such events.”
He added the criminals involved in the firearm thefts clearly specifically targeted the houses with the firearms. “So they must be acting on intelligence gained from a third party source. This can only be from firearms records or intelligence gained from within the residence. The one incident suggests the latter as, owing to construction work taking place within the home of a licensed owner of the firearms, he took great care to conceal the relocating of the firearms in question to his neighbour’s strongroom. The criminals had obviously been made aware of the relocation of the firearms as they targeted the neighbour’s house.”
Take care with sensitive information
He said residents needed to be very careful about those working or living within their homes or premises obtaining sensitive information.
“In my experience, most people are very careless about this issue. Any matter which is potentially serious should be conducted strictly on a need-to-know basis and one should be cautious about carrying on sensitive conversations when third parties are within hearing distance.”
Police are still looking for the remaining stolen firearms. “Police advise that when firearms have been stolen in the past, the use or news of the firearms emerges very shortly after the incident. This again suggests that this is a new group and that the firearms are being removed from the area for use elsewhere.
"We cannot, however, count on this and all residents and neighbourhood watch members need to proceed with extreme caution and be aware of the possibility of the presence of firearms in any criminal incident.”
Plettenberg Bay police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse confirmed the sudden surge in firearm thefts. She also confirmed that in most of these incidents criminals gained access to the homes in question through the roofs of the houses.
"They targeted safes and stole firearms. We urge owners of firearms to see to it that their firearms are kept safely at all times and that the firearms are secure as stipulated by the Firearms Control Act," Pieterse said.
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