A MANOR Gardens resident was lucky to escape a home invasion uninjured in the early hours of Monday morning.
Blue Security operations manager Brian Jackson said armed robbers had initially attempted to force open a sliding door and security gate of the property in Elland Road at around 1.30am.
“The robbers failed to gain entry but they then climbed onto the roof where they removed roof tiles and entered the home through the ceiling. They went to the resident’s bedroom and awoke her, holding her up at knife point, ” he said.
The gang fled the scene with a laptop and cellphone. No injuries were reported. Mayville SAPS attended the scene.
Jackson advised home owners to consider installing external beams as well as infrared alarm sensors in the roof for an early warning system.
“There have been many cases over the years where criminals have removed roof tiles to gain entry into properties, making it important for home owners to place infrared sensors in the roof. External beams also provide an early warning system that buys time in an emergency enabling you to run and lock yourself in a safe room in the home. The room should be equipped with a spare panic remote and a cellphone so that you can call the police and your security company in an emergency,” he said.
Jackson added that a second armed robbery was reported in Umbilo Road at around 4.15am on Monday.
“A gang of four robbers, two of them armed with firearms, held up staff at a business premises and fled with an undisclosed sum of cash,” he said.
Umbilo SAPS were in attendance.
