Burglaries in Fish Hoek are on the rise, according to the police.
Burglaries are on the increase in Fish Hoek and residents are urged to be vigilant, say police.
There was a 30% increase in crime in this category from June 2021 to August 2022, according to Fish Hoek police spokesman Warrant Officer Peter Middleton.
He said two-thirds of burglaries happened between 6pm and 6am, and burglars most often got in by forcing open doors and windows. “But this is easier when they are not locked or kept closed.”
Burglaries were currently most prevalent in the Sector 2 area, which includes Sun Valley, Capri Village and Noordhoek, with a low number of arrests, he said.
"Arrests in this category are affected by evidence linking known criminals to the scene of the crime, or information from sources such as camera footage or eyewitnesses.
“While there is a low arrest rate in these cases due to limited information, investigations remain a priority in crime prevention,” he said.
People should not leave valuables in vehicles or unattended in public places and any crime should be reported to the police, he said.
“It is important for people to be aware and alert others to any suspicious activity. This needs to be communicated not just with the SAPS, but also with neighbourhood watch groups and security groups.”
Fidelity ADT spokeswoman Charnel Hattingh said people needed to take responsibility for their own safety.
“Criminals are looking for easy targets such as a window that was left open, or a sliding gate that was not closed. It is easy to jump over a wall and quickly grab a toolbox or other small items that were left unattended,” Ms Hattingh said.
"Look at your property as if you were a criminal. How easy is it to get access – either through a street-facing window, or a tree that gives handy access for anyone climbing over your wall?”
It was also important for homeowners to check their security systems, she said.
“If you have an alarm system, is it always armed, and when was the last time you tested it? It might be worth considering an outside alarm beam that gives you an early warning when someone attempts to gain access to your property.”
Any crimes or attempted crimes should be reported to the police to help them gauge where to deploy resources.
“If you see anything suspicious in your street, please contact the police or your armed response company immediately,” she said.