Strangled, choked with an electric cord, beaten with a chair and punched repeatedly in what was supposed to be the safety of his own home.
This was the lot of a 66-year-old farmer in the Stanford area, who had to be admitted to hospital with injuries to his face and neck after a home invasion. His son was beaten over the head with a piece of wood when attempting to chase the assailants off into the bushes, and was hospitalised.
The family’s nightmare experience occurred on Wednesday 19 February at approximately 22:20, when five unidentified suspects invaded their home on the farm outside Stanford when they were asleep.
Warrant Officer Freddie Booysen, spokesperson for the Stanford police, said one of the five assailants was reportedly armed with a handgun. He said the farmer’s wife (63) reported they saw the main gate was open when they arrived home earlier that evening.
Hours later the woman and her husband were woken up by two men in their bedroom. One was reportedly armed with a handgun.
“She and her husband were dragged out of bed and she was hit in the face and on the chest,” Booysen related. “According to the victim they wanted to tie her with cable ties they had found inside the drawer. While the two suspects were assaulting them two more suspects entered their bedroom.”
The suspects reportedly demanded to know where the safe and firearms were. “She told them that they don’t keep firearms inside the house,” said Booysen. “The fifth suspect, who was outside, also tried to enter through the window.”
He said the robbers allegedly tried to strangle the woman’s husband with an electric cord, aside from beating him with a chair and repeatedly punching him, and that their son sustained head injuries on attempting to chase the robbers off the property.
They made off with a safe containing money as well as three laptops, two cellphones, R800 in cash and other items. Booysen reported that the laptops, a blue-tooth speaker, earphones, inverter, panga and two backpacks were later recovered a distance from the crime scene.
The police are investigating a case of house robbery. No arrests had been made yet.
Asked if this incident could possibly be linked to other similar robberies in the Overberg, Booysen stated all possibilities were being investigated.
Robbed at knifepoint
The police are investigating two incidents in which locals were robbed at knifepoint by three men when walking on Grotto Beach recently.
The couple from Onrus, who are both in their late 20s, were reportedly robbed of two Samsung S24 cellphones, a Garmin watch and a backpack containing a jacket and other items.
An elderly victim was also robbed at knifepoint of his watch.
Police confirmed the two incidents, which occurred within minutes of each other, were connected.
“It happened between 19:50 and 20:00 on the evening of 14 February,” said Lt Col Nickey Steyn, head of detective services at the Hermanus Police Station. “In one incident it was a couple walking together and in the other the victim was a elderly person walking alone. The two incidents happened within sight of each other, so it can be confirmed the same suspects were involved.”
He added none of the victims had reported any injuries and no other similar incidents in the area had been reported.
The assailants, who were reportedly armed with knives and screwdrivers, were described as dark of complexion and wearing hoodies and buffs that covered their faces. They are said to have fled along the beach in the direction of Stanford.
Two cases of robbery with a weapon other than a firearm were being investigated. No suspects had been identified or arrested by late on Monday.
Overstrand Municipality confirmed the incident had occurred close to the lagoon in the vicinity of Piet-se-Bos, a distance away from the demarcated Blue Flag beach area, where lifeguards and security personnel are stationed between 09:00 and 18:00 throughout the Blue Flag season to ensure visitors’ safety.
OM Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill said all role-players would be requested to increase patrols in the area.
Marcia Brown, Hermanus Public Protection (HPP) Executive Officer, said: “We are deeply concerned about these incidents and will work with all stakeholders to address them. We urge the public to remain vigilant, avoid isolated areas with little foot traffic, and be aware that HPP patrols on the Cliff Path conclude at 18:00. However, our control room and vehicle patrols remain available 24/7 for assistance.”
The authorities have urged people not to walk alone after dark in isolated areas and to carry pepper spray and/or a whistle that can be used to attract people’s attention in case of an emergency.More safety tips:. Don’t make it easy for attackers to sneak up on you. Keep your head up and pay attention to your surroundings. . Always let someone know where you are going and how long you will be gone, but think twice before advertising your impending absence on social media.. Never leave valuables unattended and avoid displaying them in plain sight.
Emergency contact numbers for the Overstrand:
. Gansbaai police: 028 384 8420 . Stanford police: 028 341 0601. Hermanus police: 028 313 5300 . Kleinmond police: 028 271 8200. Hermanus Public Protection: 087 550 5295. Onrus and Vermont Special Rates Area: 079 469 8606. Overstrand law enforcement: 028 313 8996/8990. Overstrand fire and rescue: 028 312 2400. NSRI Hermanus: 082 990 5967. NSRI Kleinmond: 063 699 2765.
