Police are searching for a house robbery suspect after a domestic worker and a seven- month-old baby were victims of an armed robbery in Lynnwood Manor on Friday morning.
“A domestic worker was attacked while on duty at a house in Lynnburn Road by an unknown man inside the yard. He was armed with a screwdriver,” said Garsfontein police spokesperson, warrant officer Duane Lightfoot.
“The suspect locked the woman and the baby in a passage and looted the house.”
Lightfoot said although police got to the scene minutes after an alert, the suspect had already fled the scene with a laptop, cellphones and other electronical devices.
“No one was injured.”
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“We are investigating the case. No arrest have been made yet,” Lightfoot said.
He said police will prioritise patrols and join crime prevention operations with private security companies to increase police visibility in the area.
The police provided the following safety advice for domestic workers and gardeners:
– Get to know the neighbouring domestic workers. If possible, walk from and to public transport together. It is also a good idea to exchange cellphone numbers so that you can alert one another of suspicious people or vehicles.
– Do not open the gate to take out the garbage bin unless it is safe to do so.
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– Keep the doors and security gates locked and keep unbarred windows close while doing chores.
– A panic button can assist in keeping domestic workers and gardeners safe. They can keep it on them when working, hanging washing, opening the front gate, etc.
– Never let anyone onto the property unless your employer has instructed you to do so. This includes utility providers, electricians, and meter readers.
– Never tell someone who phones that you are alone or when your employer will return. Instead, tell the caller your employer is busy and will call back and take a message.
– Ask for your salary to be deposited into your bank account rather than being paid in cash at the end of the month. Criminals target people carrying cash. Only carry a small amount of cash for your taxi or train fare.
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– A bathroom that can lock can be used as an escape route when intruders enter the house.
– Homeowners must also ensure the domestic worker quarters have security gates and burglar bars to ensure the safety of their domestic workers living on the premises.
– Do not hesitate to contact the 10111 emergency number when suspicious vehicles or people are spotted in the street or at a neighbour’s house. The police will check it out and your call can possibly assist in preventing a crime from happening or can perhaps result in arrests.
– Give the police as much information as possible, such as the colour and make of the vehicle, the registration number, and how many people are inside the vehicle. Also make sure that you know the address where you are working.
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