Farm Inn owner grateful to be alive following attack during armed robbery

A Pretoria hotel and wildlife sanctuary owner is grateful to be alive after a brazen attack by an armed gang of robbers on Monday night.

Pedro Michaletos, owner of Farm Inn Country Hotel and Wildlife Sanctuary, was left shaken after he and his staff were robbed at the hotel in Silverlakes, east of Pretoria.

Speaking to Rekord, Michaletos said he was in his room at the hotel around 19:00 when the attack happened.

“Two people (a man and a woman) booked a room for one night shortly before 19:00 and were assisted by our night manager at reception.

“Shortly after, the manager knocked on my door and informed me that the guests had paid in cash. He left the money with me,” Michaletos said.

Not long after there was another knock on the door.

“I asked who it was and the manager answered, so I thought another guest paid in cash again which was very unusual because we hardly deal with cash at the hotel,” he said.

When he opened the door, Michaletos said he saw his manager and security guard surrounded by armed men.

“As soon as I opened the door, the gang jumped on me. They pinned me to the ground, tied me up together with the manager and the security guard.”

He said that the group ransacked his room, demanding keys to his safe while holding him at gunpoint.

“During the time, I was punched and kicked continuously until one guy put a pillow on my face. At one point, I lost consciousness. I remember thinking I was dying,” he said.

The men managed to flee the premises with a safe and one cellphone which belonged to the staff members.

“I don’t know what made them leave but when I regained consciousness, they were all gone. Maybe God spoke to them and that’s why our lives were spared that night? But I am grateful to be alive today,” he said.

“From the minute they left, we were assisted by local security groups, Boschkop police and medics. I have to give thanks to all the role players, from the staff members to the guards, they all put their lives at risk and I want to thank them for that.”

Despite the emotional scarring, Michaletos said his dream was to upgrade the sanctuary.

“I had plans but due to the Covid pandemic, I couldn’t proceed with the necessary upgrade. This pandemic took a huge knock on us and we had no income for nearly a year.

“That’s why we ask locals to support us in their numbers because Farm Inn caters for everyone; we have the children’s play area, we do game drives and much more,” he told Rekord.

Boschkop police spokesperson Yeroboam Mbatsane said a case of business robbery was opened for investigation.

“Two people booked in for a night and were assisted by the manager who took them to their room. On arrival, he was attacked. They demanded him to show them the owner’s room but he refused.

“The female suspect led them to the room and instructed the manager to knock. The suspects were joined by other armed men, who then attacked the owner and took an undisclosed amount of cash and a cellphone,” Mbatsane said.

“More members of the gang disguised in security guards’ bullet vests arrived and tied up the security guards at the gate and left the scene,” he said.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the suspects, can call 012-802-4210.

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