Three armed robbers escaped after a robbery in Pine Avenue, Ferndale.
The evening of 13 January came to a terrifying end for two Ferndale friends after armed robbers attacked them.
Estelle and Karen were enjoying an evening outside when three men grabbed them, tied them up with rope and tried to invade the property.
Estelle said, “As South Africans, we are so fearful of relaxing outside, but I thought it was a lovely evening to spend in the fresh air… I still set all my alarms and I have beams and electric fencing to secure the front.”
At around 10pm, the friends were on high alert after the alarm was triggered.Karen said, “We went around the corner to cautiously investigate, but did not see anything.”
Thinking that it may have been a small animal that triggered the alarm, the pair resumed their relaxed evening.
At around 12am, Estelle heard a noise behind her, and as she turned around, she was confronted by three men who told her to ‘shut up and be quiet’.
Estelle said, “I can just remember crying as the men grabbed us by our wrists and ankles and tied the ropes tightly around us.”
Karen added, “They used cheap ski-rope to tie us up and it hurt incredibly. I saw one man with a gun, but he did not threaten me with it.”
The robbers proceeded to try and invade the property, but in doing so, triggered a second alarm. They dispersed, leaving Estelle and Karen tied up and alone.
Karen said, “We waited for a bit as we didn’t know if the men were still around, and after a while we began to scream for help.”Various neighbours and members of the Ferndale Residents Association immediately responded to their cries.
According to Estelle, the Randburg police and private security groups were there to offer support in a matter of minutes.The pair were convinced that the men waited for them after the initial alarm was triggered, hiding somewhere in the large property.
Estelle said, “I would just like to give a word of thanks to our community, security and the police for helping us out. I have decided to fast-track the sale of my property after this incident, it is simply too traumatising to stay.”
Estelle’s property has been on the market since October last year after a fire gutted the main house.
“I would also like to thank Erica de Jager from the Ferndale Residents Association for her help… She made the first call to emergency services.”
Randburg police have confirmed that three suspects are still on the run.
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