A HOUSE robbery incident in Brackenham on Wednesday night turned deadly when a robber was killed, one wounded and two others arrested in Airfern Angle street.
The drama unfolded at about 7.30pm when the robbers invaded the property shortly after homeowners Roy and Jeeva Pillay left to buy bread at a nearby shop..
According to Roy, they returned minutes later to find their house surrounded by police and neighbours, with cuffed suspects laying on their driveway.
‘We were concerned as our daughter and an elderly relative were in the house.
‘With the house cordoned off as a crime scene, I started screaming, but my daughter peeped through the window indicating they were unharmed.
‘Police had intercepted the crime in progress and a shoot-out developed. One robber was shot in our backyard and another in our lounge,’ said Roy.
Police confirmed that the white VW Polo used by the suspects was stolen in Empangeni the previous week. Cellphones, weapons and cash were also found at the scene.
The wounded suspect is receiving treatment in hospital while police are still searching for a fifth suspect who fled the crime scene.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Richards Bay Magistrates Court today (Monday).
The Pillay family said they were immensely impressed with police, Bay Alarms, Brackenham Community Crime Watch patrols and members of the public who all responded to the scene.
‘This incident has been an eye-opener and shows that crime has gone to the extreme.
‘It was good to see the community take a united stand,’ said Jeeva.
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