Showing up for work last week Tuesday, a Jacaranda Crescent domestic helper, never thought she would fall victim to a life-threatening house robbery. On Tuesday, March 3 at midday five unknown men posing as municipal employees who “came to read the meter” approached a property in Jacaranda Crescent in Forderville.
The helper was held at knife point while the suspects ransacked the home. It is alleged that the Jacaranda Crescent home was robbed of television sets, jewellery, cellphones, cash, a firearm and other electric appliances.The suspects fled the scene in their getaway vehicle.
When the victim realised that the suspects had left the home, she screamed for help. Neighbours came to her rescue and contacted the Estcourt police to make their way to the crime scene. She was uninjured.
Suspects arrested on the N3
According to Estcourt Police Communication Officer Lieutenant Colonel TM Mabaso the information was immediately circulated between the Combined Action Team (CAT), members of the Hawks as well as the Mountain Rise K9 Unit. After a follow-up on the information the vehicle was spotted along the N3 on Wednesday afternoon, February 4. “Once the suspects spotted the police vehicles, they sped off and a car chase ensued.
The suspects lost control, overturned and crashed their getaway vehicle on the N3 near Ashburton, just outside Pietermaritzburg in an attempt to escape from the police,” said Lt. Col Mabaso. The suspected house robbers, aged between 20 and 23, weren’t seriously injured in the accident and were arrested on scene.
According to other media reports the highway towards Pietermaritzburg was closed for several hours, resulting in traffic obstructions and motorists were diverted at Cato Ridge. Police later established that the suspects’ vehicle had been hijacked in Gauteng in October 2014. “All the property stolen from the home in Jacaranda Crescent was recovered from the suspects, who will appear in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court soon on a number of charges against them,” confirmed Lt Col Mabaso.
The homeowners story
The homeowner had an exclusive interview with an Estcourt and Midlands reporter, and requested to remain anonymous for safety purposes. “Our domestic help has become a part of our family after working for us for four years. It is horrible that this had to happen to her,” said the homeowner sadly.
The homeowner told of how the incident unfolded on the day. “At 12.30pm while our helper was hanging washing, she heard a voice coming from the direction of the main gate. She made her way to the master bedroom, which has a clear view of the main gate.
That’s when she saw a man standing at the gate in front of a silver vehicle. After asking how she could help him, the man responded that he is a municipal worker and would like to read the meter. Without letting him into the house help, she read the meter for him. He then told her he needs to read the one inside.
She in turn told him to wait because she will read it. Whilst making her way to the back door another man was waiting and held her at knife point. Being in shock the keys she had in her hand fell to the floor.
The man picked them up and opened the gate for the car to enter. She asked ‘what do you guys want?’, ‘why are you here?’ and he then told her to ‘shhh’ or he will kill her, while placing his index finger over his lips. He then took her to my daughter’s bedroom and while she was sitting on the floor the “boss” instructed the other three men to ransack our house.
Our helper then asked the man if she could use the bathroom, he agreed to let her go but told her ‘if you scream I’ll rape you’. Once she was in the toilet he locked her in and they left. When she no longer heard any movement within the home she screamed for help.
Through the open bathroom window, she could see the car and the men, without being noticed and she memorised the registration number. One neighbour contacted the police while another made his way to our home with two men who maintained his garden. We were then contacted and made our way home to find the main gate left open. We then had to break the bathroom open as the suspects left with our house keys.”
The family would like to thank the neighbours for contacting the police, the police for responding to the call immediately, as well as friends and family who have been so supportive during this time.
Safety tips to practice
Submitted by Lt Col Mabaso
“While analysing the house robbery case that took place in Jacaranda Crescent, the Estcourt police, felt the need to equip our community with a few tips, which they can practice/keep in mind to prevent house robberies.
The following are points, which we thought might be of importance to the community if put into practice:
1. The house occupant must make sure that he/she requests and acquires from the municipal employee a card, which fully identifies the employee.
The house occupant must also request that, that particular person be the one who always visits the home for meter reading.
2. The house occupant must further want to know the exact times and dates the meters will be read by the same employee at that home. Should the above be applied, it will be easy for the home occupant to identify a person who has come with the intention to rob and steal. It would be easy for the home occupant to immediately contact the police without opening the door for the stranger.
The Estcourt police are currently experiencing a number of cases regarding burglaries (residential and business).
We would like to warn the public not to leave their houses unattended as these culprits target such homes. Home owners are advised to have someone keep a watchful eye at all times, whereas business owners are advised to employ a security guard around the clock.”
