A  family was accosted and tied up at their home in Sheffield by five armed men on Tuesday night.

A man, his wife, their daughter and their niece who is 37-weeks pregnant, were on holiday from Botswana when they became the latest victims of a home robbery when a gang of armed robbers entered their home in Sheffield Lane, Sheffield Drive around 7pm yesterday.

The five men, one of them armed with a firearm and the others with knives and machetes, confronted the family after gaining access to the property from the beach facing side.

The armed men tied all four family members up with cable ties and proceeded to search the home for valuables.

Security firm, IPSS Electronic Security said the robbers stole jewelry, cell phones and cash and loaded a television, small appliances and other valuables into the family’s vehicle.

But they had difficulty with the ignition and were unable to start the vehicle.

IPSS’s Frank Labidi said the thieves managed to take jewelry, cash and six cellphones with them but left the other valuables in the vehicle and fled on foot.

A few hours after the incident the family used an app called ‘Find my Friend’ to track one of the stolen mobile phones.

IPSS Electronic Security were alerted when the results showed that the cell phone was near the Seaton Delaval and Sheffield Beach area.

“We sent our armed reaction vehicle, backed up by our tactical unit to try and locate the robbers.

“While busy with the search, our tactical team noticed three men walking through the bushes towards Flag Farm and as soon as our officer stopped the vehicle, they opened fire with a small caliber firearm,” said Labidi.

The security officer returned fire and was backed up seconds later by the company’s armed reaction unit.

“Due to the location having no lights, the men fled into the bushes and managed to get away but fortunately no officers were injured,” reported Labidi.

Two backpacks with various items including cellphones were recovered.

Chairperson of the Salt Rock Neighbourhood Watch (SRNW) Nathalie Struwe said this was the first armed robbery they had experienced in a long time and this type of crime was not a common occurrence in that area.

She said the family had been left traumatised by the attack and trauma councillors from the Umhlali Trauma Unit were on hand to attend to the family.

Umhlali SAPS police spokesperson Captain Vinny Pillay said a case of armed robbery had been opened at Umhlali police and the case was currently under investigation.

*This article has been altered to remove the identities of the family involved.