Highway residents escape armed robbers unharmed

A Westville North woman escaped a home invasion unscathed after two armed robbers held her up this afternoon.
Blue Security managing director Henk van Bemmelen said the robbers had placed a concrete palisade against the fence and jumped into a property in Strathay Road at around 12.52pm. “The robbers held up the resident at gunpoint and tied her up with cable ties, robbing her of two cellphones and jewellery before fleeing the scene. There were no injuries reported,” he said.
Westville SAPS attended the scene of the crime.
Van Bemmelen said a Mariannhill Park resident had earlier reported a hijacking after her friend was hijacked outside her property in Holzner Road at around 7.23am. “The resident’s friend was parked at her gate when two armed men hijacked her. In their panic to get away the pair crashed the vehicle into the driveway gate, derailing it in the process. They managed to get away with the vehicle. There were no injuries reported,” he said.
Pinetown SAPS attended the scene of the crime.
Van Bemmelen advised residents to check the internal and external perimeter of their properties to make sure there is nothing that intruders could use to gain entry.
“Ladders, concrete blocks, bricks, garden tools or anything that intruders can use to either climb or as a weapon should be locked away out of sight,” he said.
He urged residents to be vigilant when parking outside properties and pulling into driveways.
“Hijackers may approach their victims on foot or they may arrive in a vehicle, so be on the lookout for unknown vehicles or anyone walking or lurking near your driveway before you pull up. If you do notice anything suspicious rather take a drive around the block and if the loiterers are still there when you get back call your security company and the police to investigate,” he said.