EVANDER – Nothing was sweet about their dreams when the Crouwcamp couple woke up and saw intruders standing at their bedside.
Mr Crouwcamp, still shocked by the robbery, was lucky enough to tell his story.
The couple was awakened at around 12.30pm on 8 November by three robbers with a gun pointed at Mr Crouwcamp and a knife at his wife’s throat.
They were told to keep quiet and to cooperate.
Mr Crouwcamp was asked where his safe keys were.
He cooperated and told the robbers where they could find them.
Both Mr and Ms Crouwcamp’s hands were tied with shoe laces and were made to lie on the bed.
“My wife was asked where the hand guns were kept.
“She told them we did not have any, only hunting rifles,” Mr Crouwcamp said.
The robbers got the safe open and found the rifles, took them all out and laid them on the floor.
The robbers began clearing out Mr Crouwcamp’s closet looking for handguns, then went to a hunting closet where he kept his hunting knives, binoculars, fishing reels and ammunition.
They went to the living area and kitchen where they emptied out the deepfreezer and were looking for other items to steal.
The couple’s parents who live in a flat on the property, were in their kitchen at the time, unaware of what was actually happening.
Mr Crouwcamp said: “They came back and covered our heads with a sheet, that was when both my wife and I thought they were going to kill us.
“I was waiting for the gun to go off. My wife managed to touch my foot with hers, thinking this was it, they are going to kill us.”
Somehow Ms Crouwcamp managed to untie herself, then untied her husband.
Mr Crouwcamp managed to get his handgun which he hid and fired a shot through the roof. By that time the robbers escaped.
“These robbers knew what they wanted. They were quick, taking none of my hunting rifles, but the television and things they could carry. They also got away in my company vehicle.
“We are just thankful to be alive. Both my wife and I are still shaken by what had happened. We still get startled by the slightest noise,” Mr Crouwcamp said.
The Crouwcamps thanked their friends, family, colleagues and the police for their help and assistance during this time.
