Residents gun downs burglars

TWO house breaking suspects have been shot dead by residents in two separate incidents in the Western Cape in a matter of days.

In the latest incident on the corners of Schaap Road and 15th Avenue in Schaapkraal, an armed robber was apparently shot dead by a resident after he pulled out a knife during a house breaking attempt on Monday, 6 October .

A crime fighter, who was at the scene and works closely with the police and could not be identified due to safety concerns, said the robber had been armed with a knife.

Police said they did not have record of the incident.

A few days before, on 1 October, just after 11.15am, members from the Titanium Securitas responded to a house breaking alert in Tiger Street in Kraaifontein where two males attempted to  enter the residence armed with a knife  and golf stick but were shot by a resident.

Titanium Securitas, said in their public media report that the robber had also allegedly tried to use a golf stick to attack the resident.

It read: “At approximately 11:15am Titanium Securitas received reports from a Zoo Park Neighbourhood Watch group regarding gunshots in Tiger Street, Kraaifontein.

“Upon arrival of Titanium Securitas’ Armed Response and Crime Prevention Units, it was established that two males had broken into a house in Tiger Street.

“The resident noticed the suspects inside the premises upon pulling into the driveway.

“The resident reported that when he confronted them, the suspects exited the house and attempted to attack him with a knife and a golf club. 

“In self-defence, he fired multiple shots towards the suspects, striking at least one of them.

“A short distance from the scene, one suspect was found and had succumbed to his injuries. Unfortunately, the second suspect is still at large.”

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed the incident.

He said: “Kraaifontein police registered an inquest docket for investigation following a shooting incident October 2 at 11:30am at a premises in Tiger road, Zoopark, Kraaifontein, where a 32- year-old man was shot and fatally wounded. He sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and leg.

"The motive for the shooting is the subject of our police investigation, no one has been arrested yet."