Virginia resident recounts armed robbery ordeal

A VIRGINIA father whose family was the victim of an armed robbery on Saturday evening has spoken out.

The resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said his wife and himself were preparing a meal on their patio on Clinch Crescent when they were accosted by two armed men just after 7pm.

His children, aged 6 and 10 were in their rooms unaware the armed suspects had forced their parents into the lounge downstairs.

“I’ve been a victim of crime before and I was just trying to speak calmly to the suspects. They pushed us into the lounge and ordered us to sit on the floor and demanded our wedding rings. Both my wife and I hadn’t taken them off in a long time and I asked if they’d give us soap to help loosen the rings but they refused and we were forced to pull the rings off. While one suspect watched over us at gunpoint, his accomplice ransacked the house. A third suspect then appeared soaking wet as he had fallen into the pool while attempting to get into our house. I even asked him if he was okay.

Original story: Two arrested after armed robbery in Virginia

“The suspects kept demanding valuables and asked for the safe and money. I told them I had no safe and the money I had on me was in my wallet which they could take. Throughout this I was extremely concerned about them traumatising my children who were in their rooms. I kept pleading with them not to show them the guns when they entered my son and daughter’s rooms looking for valuables,” the 47-year-old recounted.

He said the family at one point during the robbery began praying while the suspects stole several items.

“It is through the grace of God that we were unharmed throughout the ordeal. I calmly told them to take whatever they wanted but please don’t harm my family. Once the men ransacked the property they escaped by jumping over the wall and we waited just under a minute before running out of the house and calling for help.

“I’m grateful to Marshall Security, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the Durban North SAPS, trauma counsellors and especially my neighbours who were all at my house within minutes and so willing to help. I got a real sense of community from everyone and my neighbours were incredible, they made cups of tea for us and ensured we were okay and counselled us through the evening,” he said.

In other crime news: Estate agent wanted for fraud arrested in Effingham

Capt Raymond Deoakran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS, confirmed a case of armed robbery had been opened following the home invasion on Saturday evening.

“Two suspects are currently in custody and we’ve now confirmed a third suspect was fatally wounded in a shootout with police just hours after the house robbery. His body was discovered in Umzinyathi and he was found in possession of items linked to the robbery. The two suspects in custody are facing charges of attempted murder and armed robbery and are expected in court soon. Our investigations are ongoing to locate two other men who were part of the armed gang,” Deokaran said.

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