BRACKENDOWNS – A domestic worker was found tied up by her employer moments after her home was robbed of valuables estimated to be worth around R55 000.
Michelle Clarke, a resident of Palala Street, in Brackendowns, said that when she got home at about 14:40 on Tuesday, July 21, she realised the gate as well as the garage doors were open.
“My first instinct was that I might have left them open, as I had to rush out quickly, but the moment I stepped into my home and saw that the wall mounted television set was gone I immediately knew we had been robbed,” she said.
She found her domestic worker’s hands and feet tied with cable ties, in her walk-in closet in the main bedroom.
Clarke ran to the kitchen to fetch scissors to cut her crying domestic worker loose.
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The worker known to the RECORD only as Mary, told Clarke that three men said they were there to do some door installations.
“Mary told them that I did not inform her of any people who will come do some installations. Because she did not have any airtime available on her phone, one of the men supposedly phoned me to confirm their presence.”
Clarke said Mary believed them, as a woman was speaking on the phone.
“Something like this really makes me angry. Most of my friends have emigrated and I am known to tell them just how crazy they are, because I am proud to be living in South Africa, but now I am not too sure anymore,” she added.
She said the hardest part of the incident is not the fact that they have broken into her home but that strangers come and take what they want.
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“My house no longer feels like my house; I am a very private person and I feel that my privacy was invaded.”
Clarke said she is currently sleeping at her mom’s home as she is just too upset to return home.
“My biggest fear was to find Mary dead. She is currently recovering at home, as she was very traumatised by this ordeal and will return to work soon.”
Clarke said she can’t thank Brackendowns Police Station enough. They arrived on the scene within minutes and even brought an ambulance along to assist in the event that Mary needed any medical assistance.
The armed robbers fled the scene in a white bakkie, taking their loot, that consisted of two television sets, a DVD-player, a cushion, a painting, blanket, duvet set, toaster, microwave, two pairs of tekkies, a pellet gun and jewellery worth around R20 000.
“Luckily we have insurance which can replace our goods, but the sentimental value can never be replaced,” Clarke said.
Jaco Lötter, control room manager at D&D Tactical Security, said Brackendowns has seen quite an increase in crime-related incidents in the past few weeks.”
Sgt Lindie Maloi, from the Brackendowns Police Station, could not be reached for comment.
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