Long weekend provides easy pickings for criminals

The long weekend may have been a relaxing time for many residents but opportunistic criminals in the Equestria and surrounding areas took the opportunity to earmark vulnerable homes and easy pickings.

According to Leon Muller, Fidelity ADT District Manager, Fidelity ADT received three incidents of house break-ins and one incident of armed robbery in Equestria. All incidents were at residential properties, with the exception of one which took place at a school.

Muller says the common approach used in all three was to break through the front door and/or glass sliding door and steal quick to sell items like laptops, television sets and cell phones. The incidents took place at different times over the long weekend.

“We saw a similar pattern in Polokwane,” says Muller, “but this time at commercial properties where computers were stolen.” He says they are easy to carry and can generally be stolen almost like a smash and grab in one’s vehicle.

Residents are reminded to remain vigilant and ensure wherever possible that outside beams are activated to act as an early warning signal. “We also do not recommend laptops are stored visibly unless the door are locked and barred,” he says.

“There definitely is a similar thread running through all these incidents and we don’t anticipate this kind of opportunistic crime will go away anytime soon,” he concludes.

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