Ten years after their daughter was shot and killed in an attempted hijacking, a man was killed and his wife critically injured in a robbery last night.

Just after 19:00, emergency services and local security responded to reports of a house robbery on a small holding in the Mnandi area of Centurion in Pretoria.

Emer-G-med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen says that when the medics arrived, an elderly male, believed to be in his 70s, was found outside of the residence with fatal injuries.

Van Reenen explains: “An elderly woman, believed to be the man’s wife, was found to have sustained critical injuries during the attack on their home by unknown suspects. She was stabilised on scene by Emer-G-Med paramedics with the assistance of CERT [Community Emergency Response Team] and Gauteng provincial ambulance services.”

The woman reportedly sustained a stab wound to the chest.

It is said the daughter of the couple was killed in a hijacking in 2012.

Local authorities are concerned about the number of break-ins and robberies in the past few months.

Olievenhoutbosch police spokesperson Warrant-Officer Johan van Dyk confirmed the incident and says that more information would be made available in due course.

Erasmia police spokesperson Sergeant Tumisang Moloto adds that police have noted an increase in house burglaries in recent weeks.

“Residents must exercise extra caution when driving in or out of their premises and to guard against any suspicious persons and activities. A local security forum has been established to strengthen the relationship between the police and the security companies to address serious and violent crimes in our community.”

Residents are advised to:

• Close all windows, doors and gates before bedtime, or when they leave their houses.
• Remove items that could attract criminals such as generators and tools that are left unattended outside.
• Ensure that your vehicle is properly locked by physically checking the door handle.
• Avoid putting devices in the vehicle that are visible to criminals.
• Report any criminal activities to your local police.

Station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Phindile Madonsela encouraged residents to join their local sub-forums or community policing forums.