Salt River senior survives home invasion
An 88-year-old Salt River widower had a nightmarish encounter with a woman who broke into his house in the early hours of Monday morning.
The man, who does not want to be named as he fears for his safety, said the incident happened at his Westminster Road home at about 2am.
“I woke up to use the toilet when I heard a scratching sound in the house,” he said.
He went to investigate and was confronted by the knife-wielding intruder, who had pushed back burglar bars on his front window to get inside.
“She was threatening me with a knife and stabbed me on the leg, and she also punched me on the nose.”
The woman swore at him and threatened him, demanding money, he said, adding that he had tried to reason with her and had given her the little money that he had to give. The woman had finally left after about two hours.
According to the man, the woman was between 30 and 40, of slim build and dark complexion. She had a tattoo on her arm and straight hair pulled into a ponytail. She wore jeans and a jersey.
“I was in shock and feeling anxiety,” he said.
He had lived in Salt River all his life without something like this happening to him.
His neighbours helped him to report the crime and let him sleep at their home for a few days. His nephew got his burglar bars fixed.
Woodstock police station commander Colonel Delvyn Matroos said they were investigating a house robbery and would study the CCTV footage of the area to try to identify the assailant.
The woman had taken tools, groceries and brass ornaments to the total value of R3000, he said.
“When she saw him, she said she will stab him and he must give all the cash. She hit the gentleman in the face with a fist.”
Anyone with information about the crime can call Woodstock police at 021 442 3117.
