Housebreakers burgle provincial police commissioner’s home

PROVINCIAL police commissioner Arno Lamoer became a victim of crime when robbers broke into his house in Panorama yesterday.

They gained access by cutting open a window .

“At the time of the robbery there were occupants in the house, but they only discovered something was amiss when they woke up this morning,” said provincial police spokeswoman Novela Potelwa. “A case of burglary is currently being investigated by the Parow detectives with support from other units…”

She said Lamoer urged that investigators be allowed to do their work.

No one has been arrested.

“People must ensure that their doors and gates are locked at all times. Those with alarm systems must utilise them. Know your surroundings and movements of people around it,” Lamoer said.

Meanwhile the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) is probing the murder of a suspected intruder shot dead when he and his four accomplices allegedly broke into a police officer’s house.

Ipid spokesman Moses Dlamini said investigators were called to the scene where a man was shot dead in Aloe Street in Kuils River.

“It is alleged that on March 16 at about 3:17pm, a police sergeant was at home and heard a noise from the lounge. He went… to investigate and saw an unknown male person… inside the lounge. He also noticed four other male persons in the yard… He allegedly fired a warning shot at the male inside the house and all the persons ran out of the yard,” he said.

Dlamini said the officer chased the men and fired four shots. Five cartridges were recovered. “It is alleged that the fleeing suspects left the vehicle they were driving in the policeman’s driveway. The… wounded (man) died in the next street. An ambulance was called and he was declared dead on the scene.”

Police are investigating. An inquest was opened and no one had been arrested.