Balaclava-clad robbers crash two Joburg parties

The homeowner, Hans Somsen, said he and his wife Riana had friends over to celebrate the recent sale of Somsen’s garden centre business on Witkoppen Road and to spend some quality time together before the Somsen family sold their house before moving back to the Netherlands, Randburg Sun reported.

Fareed Hoosen, Pexco Security and Training guarding division manager, said: “I drove past my friend Hans’s house on my way home from work on Saturday and saw that they were having a party. Within a minute or so of arriving home, I got a call from him to say there were armed gunmen inside his house. I rushed over, but by the time I got there, the suspects had left.”

“There were six families at the party on Saturday, around 17 adults and 17 children. CCTV footage showed one of the final guests’ cars pulling into the driveway. A white Toyota Avanza is then seen speeding up to and braking hard outside the gate. Three men wearing balaclavas and gloves and wielding pistols jumped out and grabbed the gate before it could close completely. They then forced the gate open, pulled the guest out of the car and made them lie on the driveway before storming the residence while the driver of the Avanza continued driving further along the street,” said Somsen.

Once inside the house, the gunmen ordered all the children to lie on the ground while they demanded from the guests any small personal items of value, like cellphones, jewellery and watches. Riana Somsen managed to push the panic button.

Somsen said footage showed the gunmen exiting the property, the getaway vehicle pulling up and the suspects jumping in and speeding off. The entire incident took no longer than three minutes.

ADT and police arrived on the scene shortly after the incident. Guests at the party are reportedly receiving trauma counselling.

Investigations are ongoing.

Meanwhile, a woman has opened a case of armed robbery at Parkview Police station after her family was allegedly attacked during preparations for a 50th birthday party on saturday evening in Emmarentia, Johannesburg.

The woman said the suspects seemed to be the same ones who stormed into the house party in Linden.

“They only had 9mms. They seemed to be very agitated and aggressive when entering that house,” said the victim.

Police investigations are ongoing.

– Caxton News Service