NEWSFLASH: Danville robbery victims tell of their agony
Crime victims describe the trauma they went through when they were robbed in their homes recently.
Danville residents have formed a neighbourhood patrol after a spate of robberies in the area united them in the fight against crime.
Two told Rekord what had happened to them to convince them it was time to roll up their sleeves and do something.
Motheo Mogashwa said his house was broken into twice in three months.
“The first time, late last year, robbers broke in and stole a few appliances,” he said adding there was nobody home on the day.
But it was the the second robbery, earlier this year, that had his entire family traumatised.
“I heard the security gate banging against the wall and I thought someone was trying to break in so I quickly got up to investigate. As I was leaving the bedroom, I was confronted by four armed men.”
“They tied me and my wife up. I pleaded with them not to hurt us, and after my daughter assured them I didn’t have a gun they went on to ransack the house.”
“They took my watches, suits and furniture, packed them into his two cars and fled.”
He said the robbers had separated them [he and his wife from their daughter]. They locked my 10-year-old daughter in one of the rooms so I dreaded what they might have done. I felt helpless,” he said.
Another victim, Isaac Monyai said five men broke into his house early on 8 January, and he had frozen.
“I was too traumatised to do anything really,” he said.
“They pointed firearms at us and took whatever they wanted – plasmascreen TVs, microwave and fled in my car.”
He said his car was recovered two hours later.
“I was just grateful nobody was hurt,” he concluded.
Pretoria West Community Policing Forum chairman Thesigan Pillay applauded the victims for being brave and taking part in the patrols.
“We are very grateful to have these gentlemen fighting crime beside us,” he said
Residents have been patrolling the area at night for the past three weeks.
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