Failed burglary leads to unexpected intrusion at ER24 premises in Newcastle

On Tuesday night, 16 April 2024, two individuals jumped into ER24 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) premises on Paterson Street, Newcastle, after a failed burglary at a nearby business.

Ziyaad Warasally of ER24 explained that two men attempted to break into the neighbouring premise’s storage facilities at approximately 10 pm.

However, the men were disturbed by a staff member at the said business. They then jumped into ER24’s property in an attempt to hide away. With the paramedics at the property, the team ensured their premises were quickly locked, to protect themselves and their equipment, while law enforcement was contacted.

Warasally explained, “The Newcastle SAPS, Magenta Security and Imran Ghafoor (Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team) responded within minutes, but unfortunately the men jumped out of the property and escaped.”

Ghafoor added, “The responding teams initially received a call that there was a business robbery in progress. Fortunately, it wasn’t a robbery, but rather an attempted break-in. We searched for the suspects, but they had unfortunately escaped.”

With Paterson Street acting as a haven for sex workers and the crime rate rising in the CBD, Warasally stressed, “The uncut trees and non-functional streetlights are contributing to crime in the area, as suspects can go about their actions without being seen.”

While Warasally believed that addressing non-functional lights and overgrown trees would assist in keeping the criminal element at bay, Ghafoor noted that law enforcement, security companies and organisations such as the Newcastle Crime Fighter Task Team were now prepping to up their game.

“Currently, we are facing a terrible situation with business and residential break-ins, especially over the past three months. This is partly due to suspects not getting caught, and being able to continue with their actions,” stressed Ghafoor. However, he noted this was set to change.

Ghafoor further noted that over the next three months, law enforcement and its respective partners would be working intensely to curb the rising figures in break-ins while bringing the perpetrators to book.

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