- Police in Strand and Gordon’s Bay are warning homeowners to be cautious due to an increase in burglaries.
- While police have confirmed some incidents, residents have reported more break-ins across social media, with burglaries on the rise in Strand.
- Security patrols and police operations are underway, and residents are advised to secure their homes and take extra precautions.
Police are urging homeowners in the seaside communities of Gordon’s Bay and Strand to be alert to an apparent increase in burglaries.
Despite authorities not being able to confirm the spike in incidents in Gordon’s Bay, homeowners believe their communities are being plagued by break-ins.
Homeowners have recently taken to social media to sound the alarm on break-ins and attempted burglaries around Gordon’s Bay central, Fairview Estate, Mountainside and Gordon’s Bay Village.
On enquiry, a Gordon’s Bay police spokesperson said at this stage only one incident, a break-in which reportedly occurred at a residence located in Augusta Close, Fairview Estate, can be confirmed. The case was being investigated.
“House-breakins, like all other crime, is always a concern for us,” the spokesperson pointed out.
Strand police spokesperson Warrant Officer Nico Beukes, on the other hand, confirmed burglaries were increasingly surging forth in the neighbouring communities of Strand.
One such victim, Geraldine van Wyk expressed being traumatised by simply knowing that someone had broken into her home while she was asleep on Tuesday 17 September.
Trauma
Moreover, the 59-year-old resident who recently had her arm amputated, fears what could have occurred if she had awoken while the brazen intruder was in her home. Van Wyk recalled the suspected thief breaking into her Broadlands Park home for loot. The alleged perpetrator fled the scene with her jewellery worth an estimated R2 500. The 21-year-old suspect was apprehended and charged with house break-in and theft. He is expected to appear in the Somerset West Magistrates’ Court again on Monday 21 October.
“I am so traumatised by the experience,” said an emotional Van Wyk, “Every time I look at my jewellery box, I start crying uncontrollably at the thought of being so brazenly violated for personal possessions.”
In response to incidents including that of Van Wyk, Strand police have initiated several operations to combat the apparent increase and curb perpetrators lurking, ready to pounce. One of these operations took place on Friday 27 September when Afriforum Strand, alongside security companies including Vetus Schola, Fidelity ADT, AM Security, Gordon’s Bay Security (GB Sec) and Securite Security jumped into crime prevention action, patrolling the railway line along Main Road, Strand, from the N2 bridge to Strand Railway Station.
Chairperson of the Gordon’s Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF), Edwina Hadfield, in addition to the police spokesperson, urged the community to take the necessary precautions to prevent falling victim to burglaries.
“Residents should ensure that their sliding doors have dead locks on,” she said. “They should not leave doors open and residents with garage doors must check that they are close properly before driving away.”
