Domestic workers held hostage in Lennoxton

Newcastle SAPS Corporate Communications and Liaison Officer, Lizzy Arumugam confirmed the robbery and said the two workers were held hostage at gun- and knifepoint by three unknown men who entered the house and stole cellphones, cash and a gate motor.

May 17, 2017

Zianne Leibrandt 2 minutes read

The domestic workers were held at gun- and knifepoint during a home robbery in Lennoxton.

LENNOXTON – Two domestic workers are traumatised after they were held hostage during a house robbery in St Thomas Street, in Lennoxton on Saturday, May 6.

Newcastle SAPS Corporate Communications and Liaison Officer, Lizzy Arumugam confirmed the robbery and said the two workers were held hostage at gun- and knifepoint by three unknown men who entered the house and stole cellphones, cash and a gate motor.

The perpetrators fled the scene and police were summoned, but the suspects managed to abscond and are currently still at large.

Anyone with information pertaining to the robbery or the whereabouts of the suspects are urged to contact Newcastle SAPS on 034 314 6158/9.

When asked what residents could do to avoid becoming a victim of house break robberies and burglary, Ms Arumugam offered the following advice:

“The act of housebreaking is well explained by its name. It is when thieves break into your house to steal, by a forced entry or by threatening you to open for them. This can happen in your presence or while you are away.”

– Memorise all emergency numbers.

– Never leave keys in a gate or a lock.

– The locks on outside doors should be changed when you move into a new home or after keys have been lost or stolen.

– Make provision for good outside lighting. Remember, outside lights that are on during the day draw attention.

– Mail left in the gate is also a sign that nobody is home. Get a friend or a neighbour to keep a regular eye on your property and to remove mail and newspapers.

– Use lighting to your advantage. Lights that are on inside while it is dark outside put you at a disadvantage. Lights that are on outside when it is dark inside will allow you to observe what is going on without being seen yourself.

– Curtains should be closed after dark to prevent suspects from observing activities inside the home.

– Never leave workers unattended at your home.

– Do not leave ladders standing around.

– Conduct thorough background checks before employing anyone (permanent or casual workers).

– Be careful what is discussed in front of staff.

– Don’t leave your garage, front door or back door open or partially open – it serves as an invitation to burglars.

“Never open a door automatically when someone knocks. Make sure the person wanting to enter is expected. Unsuspecting domestic workers, garden staff and children are often approached by robbers pretending to be telephone repairman, municipal inspectors or other officials. In an attempt to gain entrance to the house, robbers may pretend to talk to the owner of the house to put pressure on unsuspecting victims to open the gate or door. Persons who are home during the day should be told of these scams. Ephasise the need for security to your domestic worker to ensure his/her own safety as well.”

Read the full story in the Newcastle Advertiser newspaper out every Thursday.

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