Ten years after their daughter was shot and killed in an attempted hijacking, a man was killed and his wife critically injured in a home robbery on Monday night.
Pretoria Rekord reported that just after 19:00 on Monday, emergency services and local security responded to reports of a house robbery on a small holding in the Mnandi area of Centurion.
Emer-G-med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen said that when the medics arrived, an elderly male, believed to be in his 70s, was found outside of the residence with fatal injuries.
Van Reenen said, “An elderly woman, believed to be the man’s wife, was found to have sustained critical injuries during the attack on their home by unknown suspects. She was stabilized on scene by Emer-G-Med paramedics with the assistance of CERT and Gauteng provincial ambulance services”.
The woman reportedly sustained a stab wound to the chest.
It was reported that the daughter of the couple was killed in a hijacking in 2012.
Local authorities are concerned about the number of break-ins and robberies in the past few months.
Olievenhoutbosch police spokesperson Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk confirmed the incident and said that more information would be made available in due course.
Erasmia police spokesperson Sgt. Tumisang Moloto said that police have noted an increase in housebreakings in recent weeks.
“Residents must exercise extra caution when driving in or out of their premises and to guard against any suspicious persons and activities.
“A local security forum has been established to strengthen the relationship between the police and the security companies to address serious and violent crimes in our community.”
Residents are advised to make sure that:
– To close all windows, doors, and gates before bedtime, or when they leave their houses.
– Remove items that could attract criminals such as generators and tools that are left unattended outside.
– In a shopping complex, ensure that your vehicle is properly locked by physically checking the door handle.
– Avoid putting devices in the vehicle that are visible to criminals.
– Report any criminal activities to your local police.
Station commander Lieutenant-Colonel Phindile Madonsela encouraged residents to join their local sub-forums or community policing forums.