An elderly man from Birchleigh was left injured and traumatised after three unidentified men attacked him in his home at about 10am on Thursday morning.
Chris Kairus (77) was in his home office when he heard the men hacking at his security gate with a garden pick.
“When I heard the noise I immediately started banging on the door to let them know that someone was home.”
However, the men persisted. They broke open the security gate and entered the house before pulling Chris onto the front lawn.
“Two men punched my face and kicked my ribs for about five to ten minutes. They wanted to pull me inside the house, but I said no.”
Chris guessed something spooked the men, because they suddenly ran to the side of the road where a driver in an unidentified vehicle was waiting for them.
Chris’ wife Beryl (71) described her husband as a fighter. She was at a prayer meeting during the attack.
“When I got home I saw some of my costume jewellery on the driveway and thought, ‘OK, stay calm, we’ve been robbed’,” she remembered. It is estimated that the suspects dropped the jewellery in their haste to get away.
Chris, who still had blood spatter from the punches on his striped shirt, only noticed that his wallet was stolen when he wanted to give his ID to the police who arrived at the scene. “A flat-screen TV and my wedding ring were also stolen.” The ring was ripped from his finger and his wallet pulled from his pocket during the attack.
The latter was especially saddening to the couple, as they will be married for 49 years in July.
“It is a horrible experience but it could have been a lot worse,” Beryl added. She showed EXPRESS where she keeps bottles and bags filled with bath supplies she often gives to beggars who come knocking at their door.
This is the fifth time that their home has been broken into, but the first time that someone was home. The couple, who have lived in the house for 42 years, said they no longer feel safe in the area. “I don’t want to sleep now. I am scared. They can take my house, just leave us,” Beryl said.
A case has been opened with Norkem Park SAPS.
