Set your burglar alarms, urge cops
IOL news
May 26 2004 at 02:57PM

North Rand police warned home owners on Wednesday to be vigilant and urged them to use safety devices at their disposal to ward off criminals.

Police Superintendent Eugene Opperman said in a statement police were concerned about the increasing number of attacks on home owners in the area.

"Most of the attacks on unsuspecting victims happen during the night," he said.

Acting area commissioner Director Vincent Leshabane said various individuals and groups were being profiled by the area's crime intelligence unit in an attempt to identify the culprits.

'Many people are overpowered when they leave their doors and windows unlocked'"

We arrested several crime gangs over the past 14 days that specialise in overpowering home dwellers in and around their homes," he said.

"These groups operated independently and we suspect that more gangs are operating on their own within the North Rand area."

Opperman warned that most of the people attacked were easy targets.

"Many people are overpowered when they leave their doors and windows unlocked," he said.

"In many instances the families are watching television when the robbers enter throughor unlocked doors. They overpower their victims mostly by threatening them with firearms. They tie their victims up and then proceed to ransack the house. The stolen goods are often packed into the family's vehicle which they then also steal in the process."

Police were very concerned that so many people stilltheir doors to total strangers.

Residents were also urged to activate their burglar alarms before going to bed.

"It has been found lately that many victims have excellent burglar alarms, but that these are never used."

Opperman also warned people returning home to be vigilant and be on the look-out for people lurking around in the street and near their driveways.

"Some people are overpowered in their driveways by people hanging around the gates. Some hide behind the trees and shrubs on the premises."

He said people should have decent security lights, as this was often a good deterrent. - Sapa

see original article at:  http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=15&art_id=qwB265&set_id=1