Two men armed with a stick forced open a sliding door and stormed into a Brackenfell home in the dead of night, the fourth house robbery to hit the northern suburbs of Cape Town in four days.
The homeowner in Protea Heights escaped unharmed after the men forced open the sliding door of his Jakaranda Street home in the early hours of Monday morning.
Brackenfell police have opened a house robbery case following the incident, which took place at about 01:45. The suspects fled with two boxes of clothing. Police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg confirmed the circumstances are under investigation and no arrests have been made.
The Monday attack is the latest in a spate of house robberies across the northern suburbs that began three days earlier, on Friday 23 October, when at least three homes in Brackenfell, Kuilsriver and Stellenberg were targeted while residents slept.
Windows removed
At a house in De Tuin, Brackenfell, an unknown number of men removed a window, overpowered the residents and made off with iPhones, tablets, smart watches and laptops at about 03:00.
Around the same time in Kronendal Singel, Stellenberg, four men entered a home by removing a window. The residents never woke up. The suspects stole laptops and a smart watch before leaving on foot.
On the same night in Rouxville, Kuilsriver, a mother heard a noise shortly after 03:00 and got up to find a stranger inside the house.
She screamed and the intruder panicked and fled. It later emerged that three suspects had been at the premises, having also gained entry by removing a window while the family was asleep. However, nothing was taken.
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CPF concerned about similarities
Across all four incidents the entry was gained while residents were at home in the early hours, and in three of the four cases suspects removed a window to get inside.
Brackenfell CPF are concerned about the similarities in reports of house robberies occurring during the early morning hours in different areas, allegedly involving a similar modus operandi.
“We believe that these incidents require urgent attention and thorough investigation by the police to establish whether there is a possible link between them and whether the same individuals or groups may be responsible. We urge residents to increase their vigilance, ensure that their homes are properly secured, and immediately report suspicious behaviour or vehicles to the police.,” says chair Norman Landry.
He adds that all security role-players have been urged to remain vigilant and to alert police without delay.
Police confirmed that cases of housebreaking was registered and are being investigated.
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