Aggravated robbers attack family

A family fell victim to an aggravated armed robbery at their home in Lupin Street, leaving the father hospitalised and the family traumatised.
The incident occurred around 05:15 on February 17, when Fausto Tagliaferri heard his wife (Magda) screaming, where she was about to hang out clothes on the washing line. Upon reaching Magda at the kitchen door, he was overpowered by three armed men, who struck him over the head with a fire-arm. The blow left him stunned and unable to move. The intruders then proceeded to bind Fausto, Magda and their 11 year old daughter’s hands behind their backs with cable ties and forced them to lie on the floor.
A neighbour heard Magda’s scream for help, and looked over the wall. As he called Fausto’s name, he saw three intruders in the house and went back inside to alert the police.
While holding a weapon to their daughter’s head, the robbers demanded cash and other valuables. “I feared they would kill my daughter unless I complied. There was nothing my husband could do, as he was lying on the floor with his head covered in blood”, Magda said.
The neighbour’s call however, alerted the robbers who then grabbed two cell phones and a laptop. They attempted to flee in a white BMW that was parked in front of the house, but according to W/O Madeleine von Wielligh (SAPS Nigel spokesperson) the neighbour, in an attempt to stall the robbers, rammed his Mitsubishi Pajero into their vehicle.
“One of the robbers fired two shots into the Pajero’s driver door, missing the neighbour by centimetres. He jumped out and ran back to his house as they fled the scene”, W/O Von Wielligh said.
Fausto was admitted to Life Suikerbosrand Clinic in Heidelberg for injuries to the head and was discharged on February 18.
“This has been a traumatic experience. Our daughter is receiving trauma counselling”, Magda told HERAUT.
“If it wasn’t for our neighbour’s swift reaction, it could have ended worse.”
A white BMW was also involved in a robbery in Violet Avenue on January 16 and police are investigating whether the two incidents are linked.
A case of aggravated robbery and theft has been opened with no arrests yet been made.