THE reality of caring for the aged has many gratifying moments, it’s intense, often exhausting and worrisome. The feeling of being on call 24 hours a day is draining to the extreme.
For dedicated caregiver (53) no one was going to come between her and her 88-year-old patient at a complex in Collis Road, Manaba last Tuesday.
At about 9.30pm the carer left for Ramsgate and when she returned at about 9.45pm she was threatened in the kitchen by a man armed with a screwdriver. She managed to disarm him and held him by the throat.
She then grabbed a plate and started hitting him.
“He managed to break free, seized my handbag and ran up the stairway. I latched onto his foot but his shoe came off and he escaped via the window through which he had entered. During the scuffle in the kitchen I managed to break off his chain,” said the carer.
The caregiver said the man probably gained entry to the complex when she left. “He was definitely timing me and thought I would be out longer than I was. Luckily my patient was not harmed,” she said.
The robber fled taking the caregiver’s eight cellphones. Margate detectives are investigating a house robbery case and no arrests have been made.
With the recent attacks in the area, Valerie Ungerer, the area sector commander of Manaba Community Policing Forum, called on everyone to be more vigilant.
“Crime has definitely picked up since we headed into the festive period. The forum plays a huge role in trying to curb crime but we need the support of all residents and businesses in the Manaba area. We need more people to join the forum and play their part in fighting crime,” she said.
Among the problems that are of great concern and could be contributing to the crime are vacant and abandoned properties. Most of the robbers hide in these places after the crime is committed. Mrs Ungerer encouraged the community to register to become members on their Facebook page: Manaba (CPF) or contact her at 076 7582534.
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