Durban Families Held at Gunpoint in Frightening Home Invasion

A child was held at gunpoint while the rest of the family was forced to watch during a violent home invasion in Seaview, south of Durban on Saturday night.
“The incident was one of a number of armed robberies in the greater Durban area over the weekend,” said Blue Security community and media liaison officer, Andreas Mathios. “Blue Security raced to the property in response to a panic activation received from the Seaview home at around 8.30pm, but the suspects had already fled the scene,” Mathios said.
“On arrival they were informed that three armed men had gained entry to the house by jumping over the front fence and kicking the front door open,” he said. “The suspects entered the lounge and proceeded to hold a child, who had been watching TV, at gunpoint. The men continued to threaten the rest of the family by holding the child at gunpoint while ransacking the house,” he said.
“The suspects fled in a hatchback vehicle taking one flatscreen TV and one Xbox with them. No injuries were reported and no shots fired,” he said. “Crisis care was arranged for the family. Bellair SAPS attended the scene and investigations are continuing,” he said.
In a similar home invasion in Wyebank on Saturday afternoon, three children were forced to sit in the lounge by armed suspects while the gang ransacked and burgled the home.
“Blue Security reacted to a cellphone panic activation to be met by a resident who had been in the shower and the children watching TV in the lounge when the incident occurred,” Mathios said. “The armed-response units were informed that four armed men had jumped over the low front wall, forced open the kitchen gate and entered the house,” he said.
“The family members were warned not to scream and threatened at gunpoint to remain in the lounge while the gang members searched the house for valuables,” he said. “Eyewitness accounts reported seeing the suspects flee in an awaiting white VW Polo, taking two flatscreen TVs, one cellphone and a gate remote with them,” he said. “Fortunately no shots were fired and no injuries sustained, but Blue Security did advise that crisis care be arranged for the distressed family members. Investigations are continuing,” he said.
In one of three armed robberies at businesses at the weekend, four suspects entered a petrol-station shop in Chatsworth and held up the cashier and delivery employees in the early hours of Saturday morning.
“The armed gang committed the robbery whilst a bread delivery to the shop was in progress,” Mathios said.
“The suspects produced their firearms as the cashier was making payment. Cash and cigarettes were taken before the gang fled in a white Suzuki vehicle,” he said. “No shots were fired and no-one was injured during the incident. SAPS are investigating,” he said.
“On Saturday afternoon, Blue Security responded to a panic activation at a clothing business in Stamford Hill Road in Morningside,” Mathios said. “On arrival it was reported that three men, one of whom was armed, had entered the premises and held up the staff and on-duty security,” he said. “An undisclosed amount of branded jeans and T-shirts were stolen before the gang departed in a getaway vehicle. Members of SAPS Durban Central attended the scene and are investigating,” he said.