THREE weeks ago Avoca resident, Tasnim Pillay, was celebrating getting her drivers license. For the 48-year-old it meant independence as well as being able to drive her 14-year-old daughter, Nikita, to do Christmas shopping.
However, her joy was short lived and her world turned upside down, when she and her daughter were hijacked outside their home on Old North Coast Road on Friday.
The duo were accosted by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun. Though no one was injured, Tasnim and Nikita remained traumatised by the incident.
“I had opened the driveway gate and my mom was reversing the car. I saw a suspicious looking guy across the road bouncing a ball. He then spoke to two other guys who were coming towards him.
“They started walking up the driveway and I thought they were going to ask for something. Then one of them took out a gun and told my mom to get out of the car. I was terrified they would hurt my mom,” Nikita said.
Tasnim said she froze in fear when the men demanded she get out of the vehicle.
“They were calm, and as I got out from behind the wheel, I tried to grab my handbag and cellphone, but the man with the gun told me to leave it. I was so worried they would hurt Nikita,” the traumatised mother explained.
“I’m numb after the ordeal, all I can hear is the car tyres screeching as the criminals sped off. I’m grateful to God that we escaped unhurt. Our lives are more precious than material things.”
Nikita however, has had nightmares since the hijacking.
“I dreamt my neighbours had come to visit and they were hijacked. I’m extremely nervous and I keep asking my mom to close the doors and windows, because it’s very scary,” the Effingham High School pupil said.
This is the second incident outside the Pillay’s house. A few months ago, a family member was almost hijacked. He managed to drive off.
