A DOMESTIC worker in Westville was lucky to escape a home invasion uninjured after she was held at gunpoint by a gang of four robbers.
A member of the gang gained access to the property by jumping over the driveway gate. He then walked in through the open kitchen door. Blue Security’s operations manager, Brian Jackson, said the domestic worker was working in the kitchen when the armed man, wearing a balaclava, walked in and ordered her to open the garage door. The incident occurred in Callander Road at around 9.35am on Tuesday.
“She told him that she did not have the keys or a remote to open the door but the robber found a button on the wall that opened the electronic garage door,” he said. Three more armed men entered the property and one of the men reversed a silver BMW into the garage and loaded it with televisions, a laptop, an iPad and a cellphone. The gang tied up the domestic worker and fled the scene.
Jackson advised residents to regularly remind their domestic workers to be security-conscious in the home. “Criminals are targeting domestic workers during the day because they know that staff are focused on their work, which usually involves cleaning and working inside and outside the home, presenting a potential opportunity for criminals to strike.
“Advise domestic workers to keep doors locked when they are inside the house and to be vigilant and press a panic button if they hear or notice any suspicious movement outside.
“We have also had cases where criminals have targeted residents and domestic workers while hanging up washing and, in one case, they pulled washing off the line to draw the domestic worker outside where they held her up and fled with valuables,” said Jackson.
In a separate incident in Hammarsdale in Buthelezi Road, a gang of robbers attempted to blow up a safe after holding up security guards at a business premises at about 1pm on Tuesday. “The gang fled with an empty safe. No injuries were reported,” concluded Jackson.
