Residents in Pretoria east are being urged to tighten their home security following a sharp rise in house burglaries in areas such as Die Wilgers and Waterkloof Heights, among other areas.
Local security companies report that criminals are becoming more brazen, with incidents often occurring during the day when homeowners are away.
Gerhard Rossouw, operations manager at CSI Security, confirmed that home invasions have noticeably increased in the east.
He stressed the importance of taking basic precautions, such as activating alarm systems before leaving home and regularly testing their functionality.
“Last Sunday night, a house robbery took place in Waterkloof Heights,” Rossouw said.
“The two suspects were armed and managed to steal two vehicles, which were fortunately recovered on the same day.”
Roelie Hendriks, director at Alpha Security, said that although their last arrest in a house robbery case was in March, a new worrying trend has emerged in the area.
“Criminals are now accessing homes through garage doors,” Hendriks explained.
“Suspects arrive in a vehicle, break into the house, and load everything into their car.”
He said these incidents usually happen during the day when they know residents are likely not home.
Hendriks also warned that some perpetrators may be familiar with victims’ routines.
“It’s important not to tell too many people that you’ll be away. Some of these criminals have been watching your movements for a while,” he said.
“One such incident was thwarted in Die Wilgers on Sunday, where suspects were caught in the act.”
Police spokesperson Johan van Dyk echoed the concerns and urged residents to take proactive steps to secure their properties.
He offered a comprehensive list of safety tips to help residents deter criminals:
– Build a relationship with your neighbours to support each other.
– Always install and lock security gates and use solid burglar-proofing.
– Ensure good outside lighting and avoid leaving lights on during the day, as it draws attention.
– Don’t rely on high walls, as they are not foolproof.
– Never leave your garage door open or house keys in obvious places like under mats or in flower pots.
– Avoid displaying your name on the post box.
– Trim hedges and bushes to remove hiding spots near windows.
– Keep dogs visible; they can deter burglars.
– Train domestic workers on your security protocols and change locks or alarm codes when they leave.
– Don’t hire domestic staff without checking references or IDs.
– Lock away tools and ladders to prevent them from being used to break in.
– Use timers for lights or radios to create the impression someone is home.
– Replace louvred windows with solid alternatives and secure sliding doors properly.
Residents are encouraged to remain alert, avoid routine patterns that criminals could observe, and report any suspicious activity to police or their security provider.
ALSO READ: Three cable thieves caught trying to sell their loot in Pretoria West
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!