MARLOTH PARK – A local resident managed to fight off a burglar in her home on Sunday morning, suffering bad bruises in the process.
The perpetrator, who was armed with a screwdriver, reportedly gained access to her home by making a hole in the thatch roof. He grabbed her from behind, but she fought him off, activated the panic alarm and shouted to her neighbour for help. This scared off the perpetrator who escaped back through the roof. He fled with her cellphone.
This is the seventh woman to be attacked in Marloth Park in the last year. Three were sexually assaulted.
Police, the community policing forum (CPF) and security companies are working to apprehend the suspects.
A woman who was previously attacked was asked to verify whether a man working at a store in the area was the perpetrator. She would like to extend her apology to the store owner and the person thought to have been her attacker. He was not the perpetrator. She would also like to thank Securicon Ambulance Services, especially Ms Yolandie Dippenaar, for the wonderful compassion shown on the evening of her traumatic experience, as well as Sr Pam from Rob Ferreira Hospital for her passion and confidentiality.
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a previous case and police are waiting for DNA results to positively link him to the crime.
The local CPF urged residents, especially women, not to go out at night to investigate suspicious noises or happenings.
Strange noises have been used to lure victims from their homes and make it easier to ambush them. In case of any suspicious activity, contact your security company, the CPF and notify your neighbours via the local WhatsApp groups.
They also urged residents to report any and all criminal incidents, especially in the case of assault, sexual assault, and burglaries.
Ms Amanda de Swardt, a volunteer and trauma counsellor at Malelane SAPS, assists victims of domestic and sexual assault and can be contacted on 072-371-8993.
