PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plettenberg Bay community is urged to be vigilant after a spate of armed robberies in the town over the past week, including the theft of a R2.5-million luxury SUV.
Police spokesperson Captain Marlene Pieterse said a gardener and domestic worker were overpowered by four balaclava-wearing men with a firearm at a house in the River Tide estate in the Keurbooms River area.
“One of the suspects hit the housekeeper with a firearm and demanded the keys to a vehicle parked inside the home’s garage,” Pieterse said, adding that the suspects took the victims’ cellphones and removed a safe with cash and luxury watches, before fleeing in the owner’s grey Porsche Cayenne worth R2.5-million.
Plettenberg Bay Crime Prevention Association (PBCPA) operations head Otto Olivier said it only took 17 minutes for the vehicle to be recovered.
Various PBCPA members responded, including police and neighbourhood watch members and the deserted vehicle was spotted and recovered on the Wittedrift road, and the safe was found at the Harkerville Market, Olivier said.
Pieterse said the suspects are still at large and appealed that anyone with information contact Warrant Officer JJ Pretorius on 044 501 1943 or 073 026 2188.
Shortly thereafter a panic alert was received of an armed robbery in Ferdinand Street in Plett. “A woman was by her vehicle outside her gate when she was overpowered by two men armed with a knife. The suspects fled the scene with the victim’s cellphone.”
During the scuffle with the men, the woman suffered a laceration on her shoulder.
The Porsche SUV was stolen and recovered 17 minutes later by Plettenberg Bay crime fighters. Photo: Supplied
Three days earlier a woman was assaulted and robbed near the Lookout Beach parking area. “It was reported that the suspect fled in the direction of Lemon Grass. Plett K9 Blackie picked up the scent and flushed the hiding suspect out of the fynbos near the lagoon.”
In the meantime Lisa Nagel of Plett Watch said the ideal situation would be to have neighbourhood watch patrollers throughout the day and night as they do not have enough existing manpower to do so. Nagel said patrollers do not place themselves in danger and are just the eyes and ears for authorities.
Those who would like to assist with patrols, contact Nagel on 072 373 9689.
Pieterse said the suspects are still at large and appealed that anyone with information contact Warrant Officer JJ Pretorius on 044 501 1943 or 073 026 2188.
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