Hillcrest woman (70) stabbed in face and chest during robbery

Blue Security’s community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios, said, “The successful arrest followed on one of three violent crimes in the greater Durban area within 24 hours, which included an elderly victim being hospitalised and a luxury vehicle stolen and recovered in another incident.”

The Hillcrest home owner, believed to be in her late 70s, was stabbed in the face and chest when she was attacked in her home by an intruder on Wednesday morning.

“The incident occurred when the domestic employee was confronted in the kitchen by a suspect. Another man was seen outside the house,” Mathios said.

“The intruder demanded to know the employer’s whereabouts. When the elderly resident investigated the noise from the altercation, she was viciously stabbed in the face and chest,” he said.

The home owner was rushed to hospital and crisis counselling was requested for the employee.

Mathios noted that the intruders gained access to the property by fishing the key out of the door via an open window.

“Blue Security’s Highway Tactical Team and reaction officers responded immediately after receiving the information about the attack and began assisting Hillcrest SAPS in a search of the area for the suspect,” said Mathios.

With the aid of Blue Security’s controol room, the team tracked the suspect to a pawn shop at Oxford Village.

The suspect was arrested with the aid of another security company.

“His identity was confirmed and blood and other DNA evidence, retrieved from the suspect’s clothing, linked him to the incident,” he said.

“A lawnmower that was taken during the incident was also recovered in his possession. The suspect was transported and detained at Hillcrest SAPS for armed robbery with aggravated circumstances,” Mathios said.