At midday on 25/1/2012 my girlfriend was walking back toward Quarry Road from Kalk Bay village when they passed a man who appeared to be ringing on the intercom at 185 Main Road. He then crossed the road and started walking in the same direction as my girlfriend and her friend. By the time they got to our gate at 3 Quarry Road he had started running up behind them.

He had something in a plastic packet in his hand and called out that he wanted to show them something. They managed to get inside and close the gate. He then threw the item in his hand over the gate and it just missed them – it turned out to be a brick. It was thrown at full tilt and if it had hit either of their heads it could have killed them or caused serious head injury.

We called Mountain Men and one of their security guards, Michael, arrived about 4 minutes later. We drove with him down to Main Road  and soon saw the same man (black, medium height, medium build, close shaven head, wearing a black jacket with a big round yellowish logo on the front, and dark grey pants) walking back towards Kalk Bay along Main Road above Wooley’s pool – and pestering an elderly couple.

Again the man had something in his hand. The couple looked harassed and flagged us down. When we stopped the car the man ran off and jumped over the railings. He escaped along the undercarriage of Main Road. The security guard gave chase but did not find him. He said he found the man’s jacket discarded under Main Road.

I called Mountain Men asking them to send some back-up but no one-else arrived over the next half hour while Michael searched for the man. I called Fish Hoek police at the same time as Mountain Men, but if they responded we did not see them. We opened a case at Fish Hoek Police station.

Last Saturday at 5.30pm-ish,  4 youths broke into a car parked outside number 16 Main Rd in full view of me standing there.  The road was also very busy with people and cars. I watched them from our balcony, and after they suspiciously doubled back, stood up to try and put them off, but they brazenly smashed a window and stole a cellphone. I pointed out the thieves to the car owners, but the chase was just to slow, as they got on a train at Muizenberg station.

Reported by Helen McIlleron, referring to a home at No 5 St James flats.

Dale Heim’s home was recently ransacked. The criminals were able to unlock a security gate and used a crowbar to open the safe.

Dale reports, “On 12 Jan between 7am and 3pm we were broken into and our flat was ransacked. We stay on the top floor No 5 St James flats and we can only assume the intruders climbed onto the roof to gain entry as the window latch on the courtyard side was broken. However these criminals know TOO much about locks, my safe which is rawl-bolted onto the wall was forced open and ALL the contents taken.

None of us are safe even behind the BEST security gates!!”

FROM Dawn Garisch. Windsor Road, Kalk Bay.

On Wednesday morning, 11 Jan, I went for my usual morning swim. While away, my home was broken into – back door levered open – and a laptop, two cameras, rings, money and a bag were stolen. Because of the time frame, I am sure that I was being watched as I left the house. Muizenberg police were quick to respond, but no-one has yet come for fingerprints.

FROM: Vered Gartushka. Fish Hoek Victim Support.

I would like to bring to your attention a case involving an attacker wearing a car guard bib at Kalk Bay beach.

Last night (Dec 30), just before midnight, a visitor (Dieter Walbergh) was brutally attacked by 3 men. The victim had been drinking at the Melting pot (Muizenberg) and was on his way, on foot, to Fish Hoek where he is staying with friends. He decided to go down to the beach and clear his head. There he joined a group of people who promised him a lift to Fish Hoek. He lingered behind the group, when they were leaving, to collect his rug sack and stuff when a car guard approached him. They exchanged a few words about how great it is that the municipality is paying to guard the beach … when two other men came at him, one jumped on his back and the other pulled his pants down. The “car guard” had a knife which he handed to one of the others and said “Kill him”, then he demanded the pin to the cash card – which Dieter gave him. The man tried to slash the victim’s throat but Dieter fought them off and ran to the rocks where he hid.

They got all his stuff, including cash, cards and cell phone. This morning (Dec 31) someone handed in his ID book in at FH station.

Money was withdrawn from the account at 12:30 AM – about half an hour after the attack – at Capricorn centre. It is possible that the attackers had a vehicle. The “car guard” is a tall well built man (coloured) with a genial manner, the other two were slight of build – one possibly a foreign African, the other coloured.

I am bringing this to your attention because there have been several similar cases – involving a person with a car guard bib and wielding a knife - since October this year. A woman sitting at Napolina’s restaurant was robbed by a man with a knife, the case involving a chef (who also had a knife and stabbed the attacker) and according to Inspector Collins there have been several incidents of this nature, all happening after midnight.

The victim gave his statement at Fish Hoek but the case (281/12) is going to Muizenberg tomorrow morning.