Horror burglary ordeal for Sherwood Gardens family

A Sherwood Gardens family consider themselves extremely lucky following a close call with criminals at their Malan Street home last Thursday morning.

Shots were fired at the 41-year-old homeowner after he disturbed the two burglars on his property. The resident returned fire and wounded one of the intruders, who was later arrested.

“We didn’t sleep at all yesterday,” the man’s wife (38) told the Brakpan Herald on Friday morning. We have lived here for 11 years and nothing anything close to this has ever happened before.”

The couple requested not to be named. They have two children, aged 11 and four, who were also at home.

The husband explained that after waking up at around 05:00, he went outside to start his car to warm the engine up. When he went back outside a short while later, he noticed one of the windows to the house was open.

“I saw it when I walked out towards the garage. It was still quite dark but I could also see some of our things had been placed outside,” he said.

“I just knew something was wrong and went back inside the house to get my firearm.”

Reflecting on the morning’s events, the couple now believes the burglars were still inside the house at this time.

The duo had gained access to a room, adjacent to the lounge, which the family always keeps locked.

“Just the thought of having people in the house, I can’t explain it. I mean, they could have hurt us,” said the wife.

Alarmed by the unfolding situation, she immediately pressed the panic button, alerting their security provider.

“I grabbed my children and locked us in the bedroom. I was just so scared. Then we heard the shots,” she said.

“Outside, her husband was met with gunfire when he turned a corner to make his way towards the rear of the house. Everything happened so fast. They started shooting at me. I fired back and they ran away.”

With the assistance of security personnel, a suspect was found in a nearby veld with a gunshot wound to the leg.

“I have such conflicting emotions about the whole ordeal. There could have been a very different outcome for our family. I’m just thankful none of us were physically harmed,” the wife said.

The suspect was searched and found in possession of a screwdriver, a cellphone, a pair of mismatched gloves and a pair of scissors.

He was arrested and taken to the Far East Rand Hospital under police guard. Cases of burglary and attempted murder are under investigation.

In another incident in Sherwood Gardens only hours earlier, a home in Kirkpatrick Avenue was broken into.

According to police reports, a window and burglar proofing were forced open to gain entry to the house, where a father and son live.

The intruder was heard by the father just after 03:00, who called out to his son and told him there was someone in the kitchen.

The pair went to investigate and found the would-be burglar had already fled. Nothing was taken from the home. A housebreaking with intent to commit an unknown offence docket has been opened.

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