“The previous day I received a call from a man who said he was looking for a property, he was very specific in what he wanted. I arranged to meet him at 10:00 the next day and I arrived five minutes before the appointment to make sure the empty unit was fine for viewing,” she said.
Two African men arrived and shook the woman’s hand. “They were very well dressed and spoke excellent English.”
What transpired was a horrifying half hour for the woman. “As the younger man stood by a window the other went behind me and I heard a gun cocked to my head. I turned around and began praying out loud. Neither of them liked this, becoming aggravated and told me to shut up. The more they told me to be quiet the more I prayed.
“I was elbowed in the chest, flung against the wall and pushed to the floor. My hands and ankles were tied with cable ties and my mouth was taped. The gun was once again put to my head and a knife was passed from one to the other. I thought I was going to be killed. Then the older man took my car keys, went outside and my car alarm went off. While he was outside the other man threatened me with rape and murder.
“When the man came back inside, my head was hit against the wall and my glasses flew off. My eyes were sprayed with a substance which blinded me and they took my cellphone and car keys. I heard them driving away in two vehicles and knew I had to do something to get out of the situation. I slid over the floor to the door, managed to open my one eye slightly and saw a crack of light, wriggled my little finger so I could hook it in the side of the door and it opened. I knew I must scream to get help, moved my head until the tape partially loosened and a woman from next door came to my assistance.”
The Flying Squad, police and paramedics were called to the scene, while the woman managed to cut the cable ties and remove the tape. “I think praying to God saved me and I want everyone to learn a lesson from this monstrous attack. Estate agents often find themselves in the same position and to others, don’t put yourself in a situation where you are alone.”
The victim is still receiving trauma counselling and hasn’t had the courage to go out and show another home. “To everyone who has helped me, thank you. I’m determined to put this attack behind me and move on.”
