Assaulted, tied up, gagged with tape and locked in a room for several hours after being choked to the point of losing consciousness, a local estate agent (27) was robbed at a holiday home in Ballito on Monday afternoon.

The assailant (40) was tracked down several hours after the incident and was arrested on Monday night. According to Umhlali SAPS communications officer Captain Vinny Pillay, the man was expected to appear in the Umhlali Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

It is alleged that the man had posed as an interested buyer looking to buy a holiday home on offer in Ballito.

According to provincial SAPS communications officer Colonel Thembeka Mbele, the man had arranged with the estate agent to be taken on numerous private viewings of Ballito properties.

“The man came with the pretext that he was interested in buying a Ballito property. When they arrived at one property, he was taken into an en-suite and, once in the bathroom, grabbed the victim by her neck. She eventually passed out,” said Colonel Mbele.

He allegedly assaulted the woman and then proceeded to restrain her using cable ties.

He then locked her in the bathroom before stealing the estate agent’s car, as well as her handbag and cell phone.

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The woman later regained consciousness and immediately alerted a local security company. Community emergency response services, local security companies and the SAPS joined forces in search of the man.

Details of the stolen vehicle were quickly circulated and its tracker device activated, leading authorities to a parking lot in Umhlanga where the vehicle was found abandoned.

Authorities kept watch on the vehicle, hoping that they would be able to take him into custody.

Nearly four hours later, the robber returned to the vehicle. Authorities continued to tail the man onto the M4 Ruth First Highway until they were able to bring his vehicle to a stop near Umdloti where he was arrested.

The estate agent’s stolen items were recovered along with a gas-powered pistol, rope and gloves which were seized by the police.

Umhlali SAPS have opened a case of robbery for investigation. At the time of going to print, it was still unclear if charges of sexual assault would also be brought against the accused.

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