Commissioner orders round the clock manhunt for criminals breaking down doors in daring house robberies

POLICE in Limpopo this week reported four separate house robberies in which criminals seem to have adopted a new and daring tactic – breaking down doors to gain entry.

The victims stayed alone in either their homes or rented rooms when they were attacked while asleep.

Provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe, has since directed officers to work around the clock to apprehend the culprits.

“I have directed the police to work around the clock to apprehend the suspects. We simply cannot allow our communities to be terrorized in their own backyards. These criminals must face the full might of the law for their unlawful actions,” Hadebe said.

At Hospital View in Seshego outside Polokwane, a 53-year old woman was asleep at her rented residence when the door was kicked and forcefully opened by three men. She was pointed with a firearm and robbed of cash and a cellphone.

The modus operandi was also used at Zone 1 Masakaneng Section in Seshego the same night when a 22-year old woman was surprised by three balaclava-clad men whist asleep with her mother in separate rooms. A shot was fired before she and her mother were robbed of two cellphones.

At a farm along the N1 road in the Musina area, a group of gun-wielding suspects went door­-to-door of a compound where four victims were sleeping each in their rooms. Some of the victims were also hit with wheel spanners.

Four cellphones, a television set, cash and other belongings worth R29 000 were taken.

A man at Dovhoni village outside Thohoyandou was awoken by three men who forced entry into his home. He was tied, and one of the armed suspects remained with him in the room whilst the other two went outside and damaged the motor vehicle.

Police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, said the man later managed to untie himself and sought help from neighbours.

“The police were notified, and on arrival at the scene the suspects had already fled the scene,” Ledwaba said.

Arrests have yet to be made in all the cases.