Elderly couple held hostage in house robbery
UK visitors fell victim to three armed men who robbed a house in Forest Hills.
A CASE of house robbery has been opened at Hillcrest SAPS after three men robbed and terrorised an elderly couple in Forest Hills.
The couple had visitors from the UK staying in their home when the incident occurred.
According to Hillcrest SAPS communications officer, Cst Ndumiso Manqele, three armed men, who had their faces covered with balaclavas, forced the bars of a window open to gain entry to the house at 3am. They were armed with a gun, a knife and a screwdriver.
Manqele said the robbers surprised the UK visitors while they were sleeping, waking them up. “The men ordered them to keep quiet, and threatened to rape and shoot them if they made any noise,” he said.
They took two cell phones, four rings, a pair of earrings, two watches and a gold chain. The couple was then ordered to go to the owners’ bedroom, where they were all tied up and had T-shirts put over their heads.
They took wedding and engagement rings, two gold necklaces, a watch and two cell phones. “The men asked for all their bank cards and pins,” added Manqele.
Two of the men took the owner to get the keys for the safe. They left the two visitors and the elderly woman in the main bedroom with one of the robbers.
The elderly woman managed to free herself and pressed the panic button when the robber left the room for a brief moment.
He re-entered the room and assaulted her for activating the panic alarm, and this time, when he left again, she locked the door behind him. The robbers then fled.
Securelink and Hillcrest SAPS attended the scene. No arrests have been made, but the Hillcrest SAPS is investigating.
