Brutal home attack
Arboretum residents hit and kicked for two hours during robbery but swift police save the day
FOUR pistol-whipping intruders are behind bars thanks to the speedy and decisive intervention of Richards Bay SAP members on Monday night.
The criminals, all bearing firearms, had jumped the wall of a home in Mango Grove, Arboretum Extension where they surprised a couple in the flatlet behind the main house at 9.30pm.
‘We had just got home and I was about to watch a movie and have a bite to eat when I heard my small dog barking,’ said homeowner Deon Needham.
‘I investigated and saw a man in the yard so I knocked on the flat window to get my tenant Hein Coetzer’s attention.
‘The man pointed his gun at me and said, ‘Come closer and I will shoot you dead’.
‘Next thing I was hit on the head from behind with the butt of a gun and fell down.’
Deon was taken inside the flat where two more intruders had Hein and partner Bianca Bothma lying face down on the floor.
The four assailants began mercilessly hitting and kicking the three victims, demanding keys to the safe while ransacking the flat.
‘After about 15 minutes my wife Ronel came to see what was happening, looked through the window and ran back to the main house.
‘But they caught her as well and had us all face down on the floor, assaulting us for about two hours,’ said Deon, whose skull was badly bleeding and left a pool of blood on the floor.
‘We were all praying for our lives.
‘They must have tried to search the bakkie because the alarm sounded but they got the remote and switched it off.’
Fortunately the commotion attracted the attention of a security guard on the adjacent premises and he called his boss, who contacted the police.
‘They were there in no time and confronted the criminals.
‘One was shot in the shoulder but escaped but they arrested three plus the driver of the getaway car parked nearby.
‘We believe the black Golf had been stolen in Durban.’
Happy they all came out of it alive and with no permanent injuries, Deon expressed gratitude to the police, Netcare 911 and ADT for their swift assistance.
‘This kind of thing only happens on TV, not to yourself and it is quite traumatic.’
