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ROBBERS working in groups have been moving around Camps Bay since August last year, breaking into B&Bs, guest houses and rental flats.

Known as the "sliding door gang" by police and security forums, robbers break the sliding doors with a rock and leave with valuables, says Bernard Schäfer, chairperson of the Camps Bay Community Police Forum (CBCPF).

On Saturday, tourists relaxing beside their guesthouse pool were robbed of valuables by burglars who climbed a palm tree on to the patio and entered their room through a sliding door.

In a hold-up last month in Theresa Road, a family from the UK and the establishment's housekeeper were threatened at knifepoint, with the robbers taking the tourists' one-year-old son hostage until they had handed over all their valuables.

In Houghton Drive last month, a visiting family was robbed of money, clothing and valuables by robbers who scaled the wall.

There are no particular hot spots, and accommodation establishments throughout Camps Bay have been hit.

According to witness reports, there are two to five suspects involved, one presumed to be driving a getaway car.

"We cannot confirm that there is a getaway car, because we have found stolen property in bushes nearby, indicating they fled on foot. But some witnesses say they have seen them driving away in a car," says Superintendent Natasha Thomas, station commissioner of the Camps Bay Police Station.

"They know that tourists and people who do not live in Cape Town are vulnerable, so they target these people," says Schäfer.

Police chose not to speculate whether there is a syndicate operating.

Together with the Camps Bay police the CPF has drawn up a data base of all accommodation establishments around Camps Bay. So far 30 addresses have been logged, which will be used to build up a better working relationship between the businesses and the police.

Although a neighbourhood watch has been initiated, it is not yet fully operational, so residents still need to know how to minimise their chances of becoming a statistic.

According to reports, many holiday flat owners rent their flats to tourists, but do not inform them how to use the security system, as they "are afraid of painting a negative picture".

JP Smith, chairperson of the Good Hope subcouncil, says "businesses and rental flat owners should increase their security measures."

Police urge the public to not confront robbers and to activate alarm systems. Police arrested one suspect on 11 February on charges of possession of stolen property, and he is being questioned to determine links to other housebreaking cases. The suspect is due to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on 14 March.

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