A local guesthouse became a statistic last week when armed robbers wanted to ‘book’ more than a room.

According to police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall, the men indicated that they wanted to book a room on October 23 and paid for it.

The terrifying ordeal began when a suspect posed as a legitimate client to gain entry, resulting in multiple victims being tied up, threatened with death, and forced to provide access to their banking apps.

According to police spokesperson Captain Eddie Hall, the suspect arrived at the guesthouse, paid the R300 deposit for a room, and was shown to his accommodation by the complainant at the front desk.

“They later emerged from the room and pointed firearms at the front desk receptionist and other guests,’ Hall said. “The victims were taken to the kitchen, where they were tied up with cable ties.”

They were threatened that they would be killed if they did not provide the correct PINs for their cellphones.

Hall added that everyone was forced to open their banking applications. It is alleged that the suspects were communicating via cellphone with an accomplice positioned at a nearby ATM, attempting to drain the victims’ accounts.

When the guesthouse owner arrived to collect cash, he was caught off guard, tied up, and assaulted by the robbers.

The suspects went through the guesthouse and took all the beds and two fridges, and all the guests and the owner’s cellphones were taken. They fled the scene of the crime, driving off in the owner’s Toyota and a Bantam Bakkie.

Authorities are investigating the incident.

All attempts to get hold of the owner of the guesthouse were fruitless.

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