Brutal home attack
Arboretum residents hit and kicked for two hours during robbery but swift police save the day
FOUR pistol-whipping intruders are behind bars thanks to the speedy and decisive intervention of Richards Bay SAP members on Monday night.
The criminals, all bearing firearms, had jumped the wall of a home in Mango Grove, Arboretum Extension where they surprised a couple in the flatlet behind the main house at 9.30pm.
‘We had just got home and I was about to watch a movie and have a bite to eat when I heard my small dog barking,’ said homeowner Deon Needham.
‘I investigated and saw a man in the yard so I knocked on the flat window to get my tenant Hein Coetzer’s attention.
‘The man pointed his gun at me and said, ‘Come closer and I will shoot you dead’.
‘Next thing I was hit on the head from behind with the butt of a gun and fell down.’
Deon was taken inside the flat where two more intruders had Hein and partner Bianca Bothma lying face down on the floor.
The four assailants began mercilessly hitting and kicking the three victims, demanding keys to the safe while ransacking the flat.
‘After about 15 minutes my wife Ronel came to see what was happening, looked through the window and ran back to the main house.
‘But they caught her as well and had us all face down on the floor, assaulting us for about two hours,’ said Deon, whose skull was badly bleeding and left a pool of blood on the floor.
‘We were all praying for our lives.
‘They must have tried to search the bakkie because the alarm sounded but they got the remote and switched it off.’
Fortunately the commotion attracted the attention of a security guard on the adjacent premises and he called his boss, who contacted the police.
‘They were there in no time and confronted the criminals.
‘One was shot in the shoulder but escaped but they arrested three plus the driver of the getaway car parked nearby.
‘We believe the black Golf had been stolen in Durban.’
Happy they all came out of it alive and with no permanent injuries, Deon expressed gratitude to the police, Netcare 911 and ADT for their swift assistance.
‘This kind of thing only happens on TV, not to yourself and it is quite traumatic.’
This is indeed traumatic. I hope the law will play its role accordingly.
Thank god no1 got serious injuries the law must take it course we can’t be attact at our house they must find the culprit
Did they buy a new TV and have it installed?The Black Golf Durban Reg have been involved with numerous incidents. ? If it is the case they can be sure the same guys, if released will be back in 3-4 weeks time because they know the insurance have paid out and another new tv available. Would be interesting to get feed back. It is always traumatic when it happen. Thank goodness everybody is fine.
The security guard should be rewarded and recognised for his quick thinking and vigilance.
How would they know about the safe.Have the police questioned the domestic worker?
Were there any recent change regarding domestic help?
How many times have we been warned not to go outside and investigate?! Call police or alarm company, its safer to stay inside.
Why would maids risk there jobs, knowing its not easy finding jobs, it could be that they are questioned so innoccestley and info is passed onto the ones behind it all.
If you have maids, gardners and others working for you, they must sign a non disclosur,. But then again ,would this help?
This is purely crime driven, brutal criminals with no respect for human life. Praise to the security guard for thinking on his feet and to raise the alarm, he at least is doing what is suppose to do, secure and protect. Great news to see that in this case the Police did a great job to act swiftly. May God be with these families, tough road to recover from when your privacy and life has been invaded like this. This is a very common story in South Africa, this is alarming as this will just be another statistic of a lucky family that has been beaten senseless.