Elderly couple robbed by ‘prospective home buyers’

Investigations are underway after a couple was robbed by “potential” home buyers in Glen Marias, Kempton Park, on the East Rand.

“We lived in that house for 42 years without any problems. Little did I know the problem was looking me right in the face.”

These are the words of Glen Marais resident Sarie Swanepoel, 69, after she and her husband were robbed in broad daylight by a couple pretending to be potential home buyers, Kempton Express reported.

Swanepoel and her husband André, 68, were tied up and robbed of their valuables in their home on Monument Road on Friday.

The incident has left the couple shocked, and they want to send a warning to other residents and estate agents trying to sell their homes to be vigilant.

The house had been up for sale when on July 21, two women showed up at the house requesting to view it.

“They said they noticed the ‘For sale’ signs outside and were interested in seeing the house. Swanepoel, her son and her two grandchildren showed them around,” Swanepoel explained. Her son and grandchildren were visiting that day.

“They were very polite ladies. One of them said she would come back with her husband because she was definitely interested in the house.”

Indeed, the two women returned on Friday at about 1.15pm with one’s husband. They were in a small grey car. They arrived at the gate, hooted and asked to be let inside. Swanepoel and her husband let them in.

According to Swanepoel, they were a lovely, friendly and polite couple.

“They walked through the house. After viewing the house, the husband said he needed to go to his car to fetch some papers. We opened the gate and he did. When he returned, he said the papers were not in the car and he must have left them at the office.”

The woman then got a phone call and said she needed to take it outside and asked for Swanepoel to open the gate, which she did.

Swanepoel then went into the dining room.

“The next thing I knew, her husband came storming in and covered my mouth with his hand and two other men came running into the house. One of them punched me in the face.”

André was also brought into the dining room and the intruders told the couple not to scream, otherwise they would kill them. They were instructed to lie on the floor and had their hands and feet tied up with André’s ties.

“They ripped off my gold jewellery and took the rest of the jewellery in the house. They also stole our cellphones and my husband’s wallet.”

They further helped themselves to the meat in the freezer and stole the kettle before leaving the house. The police were called to the scene.

“I want to add how wonderful and efficient the police were. A trauma counsellor was called and ER24 came to take our blood pressure and do assessments. I was so impressed.”

Swanepoel still has bruising on her right eye, which she describes as “pitch black”.

Since the incident, they have removed the for sale signs as they do not feel safe right now.

“We are still too scared and upset after what happened. I just want to warn other people and estate agents out there trying to sell their homes. Be careful. You trust someone and let them into your home only for them to turn around and do this to you. You can never tell between the good and bad guys.”

Kempton Park police spokesperson Captain Jethro Mtshali confirmed the incident.

He said a case of house robbery was being investigated.

– Caxton News Service

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