Robbers pose as meter readers in Westville

A Westville resident and domestic worker were lucky to escape two separate home invasions without serious injury this week.
Blue Security operations manager Brian Jackson said a domestic worker was working in the courtyard of a home in Faraway Place when three men pretending to be meter readers rang the intercom at around 12.30pm yesterday. “The domestic worker went to the gate where she told the men, who said that they had come to read the meter, that she was not permitted to allow anyone onto the premises. The gang then removed security spikes off the perimeter fence and forced their way onto the property,” he said.
“They grabbed the domestic worker and threatened to rape her before locking her in a bathroom. They then ransacked the home and fled in a silver grey Mercedes with two televisions, cash and a safe containing jewellery,” he said. Westville SAPS attended the scene of the crime.
Jackson advised residents to warn their domestic workers not to venture to the gate to speak to people who arrive unexpectedly during the day. “This is the second incident this week where a domestic worker approached the gate to speak to visitors who then forced their way onto the premises. If possible domestic workers should rather peer through a window to see what is happening outside, and press a panic button immediately if suspects are seen tampering with the gate to get in.”
Jackson said a resident had sustained a minor injury in a second home invasion in Queen Elizabeth Drive at around 2.28am this morning. “The resident was working in his study when a gang of six men, two of them armed with knives and one with a firearm, burst into his home. He fought with the suspects and sustained a minor injury but did not require medical treatment,” he said.
Jackson said a set of car keys was reported stolen.