ORGANISED crime syndicates operating in Mtubatuba’s residential areas are becoming increasingly bold in their activities as they continue to elude law enforcement.
After 11 houses were robbed on Christmas Day alone, affected residents banded together to work out the criminals’ modus operandi (MO).
It soon became evident that the houses are staked out and empty white plastic packets or polystyrene boxes are placed outside targeted houses.
Concerned residents quickly connected the number of packets or boxes outside each house with the number of dogs living at each house.
Furthermore, the size of each polystyrene box differed according to the size of the dogs.
According to residents, this style of burglaries started in June last year and criminals appear to be ‘shopping to order’.
While the MO is the same in all cases, the criminals’ times of operation seem erratic. Some burglaries occur between 9 and 10pm, while others take place in the early hours of the morning.
As the criminals continue to elude police officers, they appear to grow more confident in their style of burglary.
In one case, a group of people were watching a rugby match on TV when a thief entered the house, stole a few small items and was on his way out before being noticed.
In another case, a group of rugby players was braaing in the garden when a thief slipped into the house, stole wallets and cell phones and left undetected.
This escalation in the brashness of criminals is worrying Mtubatuba residents who are questioning the effectiveness of Mtubatuba’s policing.
Communications Officer at Mtubatuba SAPS, Lieutenant Mpontshane, said while they were aware of the burglaries, they were not familiar with the use of white boxes and plastic bags to target houses.
Mpontshane said further investigations would be undertaken and urged residents to be vigilant until arrests have been made.
