Suspects resort to extreme violence during Hectorspruit robbery
"They shouted a demand for money. My first instinct was to defend myself and I attacked them. This was a big mistake."
HECTORSPRUIT – Freek Prinsloo, a town resident, was ambushed by several suspects at his bakkie around 04:30 on Monday just as he was heading to work. After demanding money from him, Freek reacted instinctively and attacking them.
The robbers reacted and one hit him three times with a firearm. He received a gash requiring nine stitches and passed out for about half an hour.
In this time they took his keys, went into his house and attacked his wife, Christa. They tried strangling her, ripped out one of her earrings and demanded she open the safe.
When they got into the safe, they stole cash and a firearm.
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Freek explained that his son, Nico, had arrived at work and noticed that his father hadn’t. “He knew that I was usually at work by 04:30 and drove to the house to see if everything was okay.”
Nico found Freek lying next to the bakkie, a pool of blood around his head and assumed his father had been shot. Luckily he was proved wrong and his father was just unconscious.
The robbers spotted Nico and fled. Some of their loot was later recovered.
Freek’s son-in-law Helgard Meyer came over to help and soon officers from Komatipoort SAPS, Securicon Lowveld, Swift EMS and members of the local Concerned Citizen Group were on the scene. Freek was full of praise for the support they received from the aforementioned and the rest of the community.
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Freek told Corridor Gazette that the suspects had to have been keeping an eye on them for a while. They knew Freek’s routine, knew when the alarm would not be activated They had also jammed the electrical gate, ensuring that he would be vulnerable at some or other stage after leaving the house.
“I’d advise anyone who ends up in a similar situation never to go on the offence. You need to stay calm, try to think clearly,” Freek said.
A couple in Boschfontein were also attacked at their home, this time around 01:50 on Sunday.
According to Sgt Nompilo Qwabe of Schoemansdal SAPS the 42-year-old man and his wife were woken up by the two suspects standing in their bedroom.
The couple were tied up with rope and the suspected demanded a firearm and cash.
The victims told them they had neither and the suspects took two cellphones instead. They then loaded the victims into their vehicle’s trunk and drove away. The man managed to untie himself and then his wife and they escaped.
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They reported the incident to the police, who quickly reacted. Officers found the vehicle in Tonga, which was abandoned by the suspects once they realised the police were on their trail.
A break-in was reported near where the vehicle was found and police suspect the same two suspects were responsible.
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Later that morning, two different suspects burgled a clothing store at Matsamo Plaza.
One of the store’s cashiers told police she was at her post when the suspect entered the shop. They bought recharge vouchers from her and while she was busy with the transaction, they pulled out a firearm. The two suspects demanded that she give them the saving cards used in the store.
They were handed a box containing a number of the cards, robbed two customers of their cellphones then fled the scene.
Anyone with information that can lead to the apprehension of the suspects can contact Schoemansdal SAPS on 013-781-3310/11 or Det Const Iaan Mashaba on 072-920-1701.
