Judge finds ADT liable for Hyde Park couple’s faulty alarm in armed robbery
HYDE PARK - ADT Security has been found liable for damages suffered by a Hyde Park couple during an armed robbery.
This according to reports on 7 May which state that former Sappi chief executive Eugene van As said robbers broke into his luxury Hyde Park home.
Three armed robbers entered the kitchen while the couple was having dinner and held them up at gunpoint.
Van As claimed R1.7 million from ADT in the High Court in Pretoria, accusing the company of being in breach of an oral contract. Apparently, Van As said an ADT technician was repairing the system on 26 January 2012, the day of the robbery, and he was unaware that the system was not working when the technician left.
Presiding Judge Johan Louw said the company tried to create the impression that what went wrong was Van As’ fault. Louw added that Van As’ uncontested evidence was that had the alarm functioned properly with the siren sounding and floodlights being activated, he would have pressed the panic button and locked the patio doors.
The amount in damages due to Van As will be determined later.
ADT will be releasing a statement soon.
This is an ongoing story and more information will be released as it becomes available.
