A BUSINESS owner in Khula Village, near St Lucia, was overpowered by armed robbers late on Monday night after returning home from work.
The tavern owner, who also works for a local company that cleans ablutions at the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, arrived home from work at about 10pm.
After parking his company vehicle in the garage, he locked up and proceeded to enter his house via the kitchen.
At that point, he was overpowered by five men, all bearing firearms, and forced into the house at gunpoint.
He was also hit over the head with the butt of a firearm.
During the commotion, the victim’s mother and a tavern worker locked themselves in a bedroom.
The criminals, however, forced them to unlock the bedroom, where they proceeded to tie up the three victims with electrical tape.
The criminals then ransacked the house, looking for money.
They stole about R10 000 in cash, as well as cell phones, iPhones, a laptop, a TV and clothing.
The criminals loaded the loot into the homeowner’s private vehicle in which they fled the scene.
A fourth victim had locked herself in another bedroom in the house.
Mtubatuba SAPS visited the crime scene on Tuesday morning and opened a case of armed robbery.
Although the criminals did not cover their faces during the incident, the victims were unable to identify them.
