Westville domestic worker held up in home invasion

A Westville domestic worker was lucky to escape a home invasion uninjured after a gang of four robbers in a BMW held her up at gunpoint.
Blue Security operations manager Brian Jackson said the domestic worker was working in the kitchen when an armed suspect wearing a balaclava walked in and ordered her to open the garage door. The incident occurred in Callander Road at around 9.35am on Tuesday last week.
“She told him that she did not have the keys or a remote to open the door, but the suspect managed to find a button on the wall that opened the electronic garage door,” he said. “A gang of three more armed men then reversed a silver BMW into the garage and loaded it with televisions, a laptop, an iPad and cellphone. They proceeded to tie up the domestic worker before fleeing the scene.”
Jackson said one of the armed robbers had jumped over the driveway gate to gain entry into the property and walked in through the open kitchen door. Westville SAPS attended the scene of the crime.
Jackson advised residents to regularly remind their domestic workers to be security conscious in the home.
“Criminals are targeting domestic workers during the day because they know that staff are focused on their work, which usually involves cleaning and working inside and outside the home presenting a potential opportunity for criminals to strike,” he said. “Advise domestic workers to keep doors locked when they are inside the house, to remain vigilant and press the panic button if they hear or notice any suspicious movement outside.
We have also had cases where criminals targeted residents and domestic workers while hanging up washing. In one case, they pulled washing off the line to draw the domestic worker outside where they held her up and fled with valuables,” he said.