A PENSIONER (65) has been left traumatised after a burglar entered his home in Merebank and attacked him with a screwdriver before tying him up with shoelaces.
The pensioner, who asked not to be named, said the invader entered his home through an unlocked door and saw him standing in the lounge. “It happened so fast, he lunged towards me with a screwdriver and cut my wrist. He threatened to stab me again if I didn’t listen,” said the pensioner. For fear of getting hurt again, he stopped fighting and the intruder tied his hands and feet to prevent him escaping.
While the intruder began searching for valuables, the elderly man managed to wiggle free from the shoelaces and ran to his neighbour who came running with a stick in hand. “By the time we got back to my house, the man was gone, He took some of my brother’s belongings and a pair of work boots to the value of R1,000,” he added.
Wentworth SAPS who responded to the call found the house to be a popular target for vandalism. Lt Gumede who was on scene said that the officers noticed that almost every window was broken in the house, “When entering the home, we also noticed a lot of rocks laying on the floor.
It seems that the house is a huge target for delinquents and now, a target for robbery. We suggested to the home owner that he installs security alarms and also tries to properly secure his premises. We have helped him open two cases of house robbery and malicious damage to property,” said Lt Gumede. He urges residents, especially senior citizens to safeguard themselves and their property against criminals. He also suggests that they keep numbers of their local police services in case of emergencies, such as Wentworth SAPS 031-451-6240/41/42 or 10111, which could save their lives and the lives of others.
