The Barber family was held up by at least three armed robbers for between 30 and 45 minutes at their Athlone Park home on Wednesday, 14 May.
According to Debbie, her and her husband, Mark were sitting in the lounge and their daughter, Aleshia (16) was in her bedroom, when one of the men walked in just after 7pm and put a gun to their heads and said “hands up and lie down on the floor”.
“I first thought it was a joke, because we couldn’t see him and I thought it was my son or one of his friends playing a joke on us,” she said.
The man made them lie down on the floor and kept a gun to their heads. He asked if there was anyone else in the house or the granny flat. Although their tenant was there, they lied and said she was in the hospital, as her car was in the yard.
“Another man then came in and took over guarding us, while the first went to fetch Aleshia. They made us take off our jewellery off and kept on asking where our safe is and if we had guns, money and more jewellery. They threatened to rape and murder our daughter if we didn’t comply.” They noticed the duo communicating with a third man outside. “They spoke English without an accent to us, but spoke to whomever was outside in Zulu and at one stage even phoned him.”
The men ransacked the house and were “very specific” in what they wanted, said Debbie. “They were very calm and professional.” They took a TV, hi-fi, four cellphones, an X-Box and various other electrical appliances. “They kept on demanding keys to a Ford Fiesta, which we don’t have. They then told us to run into the bedroom and get under the bed.” Mark eventually walked out of the bedroom to find the men had made their escape in Debbie’s Ford Eco-Sport.
“We have three dogs, including a bull terrier. We think they were doped. The bull terrier ran in when we were still being held captive in the lounge and went for the men, but they punched him repeatedly.” Police lifted fingerprints, but there were no positive matches on their database. They believe the men may be based out of South Africa.
The SAPS KZN media centre confirmed the incident occurred at about 7.10pm. “Three unknown armed men accosted a family in Ramble Road, Athlone Park and robbed them of household items, including jewellery and undisclosed amount of cash at gunpoint,” said Colonel Jay Naicker. “They fled in the complainant’s vehicle and no injuries were sustained during the incident. Amanzimtoti police are investigating a case of house robbery and no arrest has been made at this stage.”
