POLICE in the Highway area reported that crime was relatively stable during the festive season, however a Westville family was hit by armed robbers who tied them up and left them traumatised on Christmas day.
According to Capt Elizabeth Squires of Westville SAPS, a 48-year-old man and his wife who live in Cochrane Place were threatened by five armed men who tied them up in their home on Sunday, 25 December around 22.45pm.
“The five men broke into the home and two produced firearms. They demanded cash and the safe and forced the couple to lie on the floor and tied them up. The house was ransacked and the robbers left with the victim’s Nissan Qashqai,” said Squires.
As the robbers left, they were caught in a shootout with a tenant in the outbuilding on the property. One robber was shot and taken to King Edward where he later died. The other four robbers fled.
“The vehicle was recovered recovered by Metro Dog Unit in Bonela. The deceased robber was 38 years old. A case of house robbery is being investigated by the Cluster Trio Task Team,” said Squires.
In another incident on Thursday, 29 December, four men in their twenties were held up by a gang of three men in Westville. The robbers gained access to the property by removing the motor from the gate.
According to Squires, the robbers assaulted the the four men and ordered them to lie on the floor. “They fled in an unknown vehicle and stole TVs, cellphones, a tablet and cash. A case of house robbery was opened.”
However, Squires claimed that crime was stable in Westville with police visibility, road blocks and vehicle check-up points.
Constable Ndumiso Manqele from Hillcrest SAPS said no serious crimes were reported in the Hillcrest area.
“The police were out in force but and there was one attempted armed robbery of a cash in transit vehicle by two men at the Hillcrest Corner. One man was shot by the transit guards while the other fled,” said Manqele.
Hillcrest police are also appealing to the community for information that could help in solving a murder case.
According to Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, spokesman for KZN SAPS, a 35-year-old man was found in his rented house in Beneres Road, Embo area near Zondela store on Wednesday, 28 December around 6.30am.
“The deceased had multiple stab wounds in the upper body and was last seen alive the previous day,” said Col Mbhele.
Anyone who can assist with information are urged to contact the Station Commander Colonel Zama Mabaso on 082 376 3037 or 031 783 4441. You may also contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
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