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There is nothing to piss you off like getting out of the surf to find your car has been stolen.

15/01/2012

Don't become a victim of car theft on the Durban beachfront.

Along with the wave rich, uncrowded beauty of the majority of our coastline, the fact that there are so few surfers in SA and that in terms of global surfboard prices SA offers the best value for money anywhere in the world we have a price to pay for all that surf heaven we enjoy and that price is Crime.
That one little word is probably responsible for more Saffas emigrating than anything else and it is a real bastard when it happens to you.
Recently it has come to our attention that car theft along the Durban beachfront is rife. At this point we don’t know if there is a syndicate at work or just a co-incidentally high number of thefts taking place, but what we do know is that especially in the Addington and Pirates Beach areas a lot of cars are getting stolen. Like try 4 in one day!
The safest area in Durban to park your car is in the lower North Beach, Durban Surf and New Pier parking lot. This area is patrolled by ‘The Guardian Angels’ who are a crew of well-known and organized car guards. These guys are so trusted that most local surfers would rather leave their keys with them than chance the old key on the tyre trick. If you are a visitor to Durban you need to find these guys and make sure you park in their areas when going for a surf.
If you are doing the learn to surf thing you can also park in the paid parking on the south side of uShaka. R15 upfront is worth the peace of mind, believe me.
I had a car that was stolen 3 times in about 6 months. Because it had a tracking device it was always eventually recovered but it got trashed in the process. Also you would not believe the admin that comes with having your car stolen, quite aside from the inconvenience!
In this case prevention is better than cure. If you are one of those guys who is leaving your key on your car (outside of a keylock) or not giving it to the Car Guards to look after you are putting yourself in the firing line.
If anyone has any information about the above please contact us so we can share it.
Also show your appreciation for the good work ‘The Guardian Angels’ do. Without them we’d be in really deep sh*t!
John

Got something to say? Then leave a comment!

Posted by Gregg on the 16/01/2012 09:12

so true so true. my Hilux double cab was nicked yesterday morning from durban beachfront at kite beach. the keys were in my pocket... fuck you car thieves.

Posted by D on the 16/01/2012 09:29

My mate who has been living in Aus for the last 10 years came back for a holiday to visit family. First trip back in 5 years. Went for a surf at Pirates and came out to find his car gone. Nice welcome home!! Apparently these thieves watch everyone parking from high up in the buildings on the promenade (next to Blue Waters) with binoculars and call their mates walking around letting them know when surfers arrive as they know they'll be undisturbed. They also watch to see where you leave your keys and relay this info to the guys on the ground. BASTARD CU*TS!!! I'm down at Pirates 2-3 times a week surfing, running or with my young lighties. Either there or south beach teaching my 5 year old to surf! Madness that we have to deal with this bullshit. I wish we could catch these guys, heres to vigilatism!!! The city spends millions on upgrading a great beachfront facility but you cant even use it?? This should go to the papers!

Posted by warren De Villiers on the 16/01/2012 09:56

Super stoked you guys have made this article, i was just about to write to the Bombsurf and ask as a community of surfers what we can do. I have had 4 mates cars stolen in 1 month. With the amount of Metro and SAPS on the beach front, how is it possible that this is happening. They know about the hots spots but are indifferent to the situation. This is severely cramping the surf lifestyle and the reason so many of us live in Durban. The media needs to turn the spotlight on the situation and hopefully this will put pressure on the SAPS to do something.

Posted by Duncan Blair on the 16/01/2012 10:13

Hi John I had my bakkie stolen from Pirates/battery beach on xmas eve 2010. The uncanny thing is that the parking lot was litterred with SAP personel. All of them were most unhelpful when I approached them and they had no clue as what to do. Not one of them had pencil a paper and none of them even thought about using their radios to advise Durban central control of the situation. (the fat lazy useless C*#ts).There is always a very strong police presence early in the morning from approx 6h00. So you generally feel that your vehicle is safe. There are also a number of cctv cameras covering the entire parking lot. After discussing this at great length with the inspector who was handling my case and trying to recover the cctv footage I have come to the conclusion that the SAPS are very involved in this criminal activity. The police officer on duty in the control room has perfect access to the TV monitors and basically radios through to those idle/overweight police on duty in the car park who then inform the thief that they can steal a particular car as they are now in the water for the next hour +. I have subsequently found out that you can have access to this CCTV footage however your attorney needs to request this in writing to the SAPS. Losing my car at Pirates car park left such a bad taste that it took me exactly 1 year to the day before I went back and surfed Battery beach again. I do however sh#* myself for the duration of my surf there hoping I still have a car when I get out. Somehow or other we need to let the Police know that they are in on it because they are the most unhelpful useless pieces of shits that I have ever come across and I detest paying Rates and taxes knowing that I am contribuiting to the salaries that they are paid. I wonder if they ever think about that. Would be interested in seeing other related stories regarding this issue Many Thanks Duncan

Posted by mark on the 16/01/2012 12:00

Yeah,the crowds could be so much more spread out if we had Guardian Angels all over.I know the volume is not there initially to make it viable for them but its got start somewhere else as well.Having said that the bastards put a gun to Willem the carguard at Pirates on Friday when he attempted to stop them stealing Bruce Pender Smith's Fortuner.They got away with it and the cops then suggested that Willem is in on it to shift responsibility.Toyota's are a popular hit right now for sure.1 black mamba in the car should do the trick.The fact that the cops cannot even set up a "TROJAN HORSE" operation also makes you realise how useless they are!

Posted by Trev V on the 16/01/2012 12:14

It is a high cost to pay for excellent surf conditions. You can drive up and down the beach front looking for a nice break on any particular day, but crime forces us to use north beach for the "guardian angels" (thanks Neville et'l) or Ushaka, thanks Mandla and Big Joe. Otherwise I dont SUP any other breaks. What a pity. Thinking of leaving too. But where to surf and live?

Posted by Morty on the 16/01/2012 12:17

We got lucky a couple months back when a mate and I went for body surf at Pirates. We both have electronic keys so opted to quickly hide them in the sand discretely near the shore for 5 minutes. Miraculously, once we got out the water, found only one set of keys. Sprinting up to the promenade parking, we found two plain clothed policemen that had taken over possession of them from two car thieves that were walking up and down the parking lot pushing the remote and looking for the car. Luckily for the cops that time. Means they're even watching us on the sand. enough is enough. We grew up on these beaches, let's fight to get them back.

Posted by Launch on the 16/01/2012 15:40

I had my car stolen today....oh ja.....and last year April. April was at Battery Beach and today was at New Peir. Both times car guards were around. I have been surfing these beaches for 25years and can tell you that since the slow inflow of foreign nationals into SA things have gone to s**t. These guys are pro's and this is why they are getting away with it. Car Guards are not pro's. They are not employed be anyone to guard cars, they would be more professional towards the safety of other peoples belonings if they were being paid properly to do so. Many of them are unemployable and I'm quite sure many of them are asked to turn a blind eye through the offering of an extra buck or their very lives. Some could not even give a shit....as long as they get their R2...R3....and it's pretty crazy how we all have become so complacent with intrusting them with our car keys. Just the other day I witnessed a Nigerian guy asking a whole bunch of questions to one of the female car guards.....wanting to know what she does and how she opperates with looking after they keys....she must of had at least 30 sets of keys with her. More can be done about this, we all need to put our heads together and do something about it cause I AM FK'N OVER IT!!!

Posted by Brett on the 16/01/2012 16:58

Hi John Just not worth it to park at Pirates - rather park at Joe Kools, leave your keys with Johan or one of his men and then take a short jog to Pirates. There is nothing like worrying about your car to ruin an otherwise decent surf. Also just been to SAPS now about a business break in and you really dont want to put yourself through that place after your car has been nicked.

Posted by Sadly time to move on from Durbs? on the 16/01/2012 20:19

This bullshit has been ruining my surf sessions for years. I used to think it was just my issue and that I need to deal with paranoia!!! WTF Actually I was considering it just yesterday , driving past tramps south beach and some good little bowls spinning off near the wreck and going nooit bru dont even think of it - say what , I love that place. As everyone points out even insurance doesn't cover the mission of the paperwork and lost mobility , never mind the wise man that looks after his car to avoid having to replace it every couple yrs only too have all that loving care lost and the Insurance company offering only 85% of current book value. Basically that means unless you go on a momentous hunt you gona have to replace what was stolen with a piece of poo car. Cops have the man power but not the will - they just don't give a fuck. The promenade/carpark areas is really not a particularly difficult situation to secure. Majority of cops I experience are people dressed in police uniforms and not much else. Rather sad that the people inheriting this land hold it with very little value. What is left when that moment of freedom from lifes bullshit is ruined with fear? I just want that damn moment of freedom , its truely priceless , its definitely up there with the number one reason I started surfing fuuuukkkkk!!! :) Ps I can now see why people live in gated communicates up the north coast , drive their cars into the ground and replace it every 5yrs come what may.... I been doing it all wrong!!!!

Posted by D on the 16/01/2012 20:19

Can someone collect all these stories (with case numbers if required) and forward this to the municipality or at least the papers to highlight exactly what is going on in this huge investment of theirs! I'm down often and knew it was a problem but I didnt know it was this bad!

Posted by John on the 17/01/2012 11:54

My son's car was broken into (parked just south of Durban Surf next to the Rachel Finlayson Baths) when he went for a surf. Wallet, cell-phone, watch etc. stolen, with female car guard on duty. Apparently she went to the toilet. When reported to SAP, they commented that it was the fourth break-in in that car park in a week. This was at the end of last year. Neville and the guys around Durban Surf do a great job, but the system's not infallible!

Posted by Gigs Celliers on the 21/01/2012 11:06

After 16years,relocating the Surf shop from new pier to Big Bay in Cape town has opened my eyes to two things.. firstly the DA have given me a beach that is safe,user friendly and crime free here on mother citys northern beaches,we have lifted profits and are impacting the scene with true surf vibes.it is possible to enjoy the beach in south africa,just not in KZN it seems.... secondly nothing compares to wave quality in KZN when its not onshore,and like any third world zone it takes some street smart to capitilize on the world class surf. central America,indo and many other areas call for the same street smart. maybe just park in the casino building if you surfing battery beach? either way South Africa offers the best lifestyle and surf anywhere on the planet.....if any one can contest that statement,lets debate...

Posted by Peroni on the 24/01/2012 23:42

Hey, now this might be the answer http://www.opentip.com/Sporting-Goods/Multi-Fuel-Shut-Off-Valve-Volt-p-1747898.html

Posted by Gary on the 27/01/2012 17:34

Hey guys, my Toyota Hilux D/cab was stolen on Dec 23rd from in front of the Balmoral Hotel. Even with the Police station on the pavement there and the ubundance of cops around, miraculously no-one saw a thing and the SAP were of absoluely no help! I guess its up to us surfers to make a plan. Since my incident, I have been chatting a lot to car guards and have come to realize that besides the 'Guardian Angels" guys, the rest of these ous are never going to stop your car from being jacked by armed thieves. The Pirates carguard told me of an incident last week where he approached Nigerians to stop a car theft and they simply show their weapons and the car guard scuttles off. Now we all know that ones car is not worth a life, so you cant blame the guards. Everytime I talk to beach front carguards they tell me of an incident that occurred within the last 24hours. Anyway, I saw one dude with the best idea ever down at South beach...he had wheel-clamped his own car. Now there's a dude who's going the distance!

Posted by Iza on the 20/02/2012 14:13

There's a men's bbaerr shop on the LH side of XVNT street heading away from town, just north of the market and a couple of hundred metres before XVNT meets Le Hong Phong. 30,000VND, but they do a good job.

Posted by clyde on the 09/05/2012 20:18

The crime along our coastline is shocking. I've had a car stolen on marine parade in front of bay of plenty pier. Had the key on me in the water. Had a car stolen at battery beach where I hid the key under the car bumper. I had had enough so I bought a fluid key lock for R500 and felt very secure about it. It was not to be my mates car was stolen this morning in front of bronze beach umhlanga this morning only to find the keylock cut off and left lying broken where his car used to be. I have had enough of this shit. Something needs to be done.