Tuesday, 23 August 2011

Left in the lurch

With armed robbers still on the premises, an Arboretum victim managed to sneak a call to 10111 - only to be told that the police were changing shifts and could not respond. Daycare owners Steve and Ester Fourie were held up by two armed robbers early on Thursday morning. They had just arrived at their ‘Laaities and Ladies’ crèche with their grandson when two young men approached them. After threatening to kill them, the two men pushed them into the house. Their grandson and another 18 month-old boy were watching television when one of the toddlers noticed what was happening and ran towards Ester. He was in a frantic state and crying continuously. This agitated the criminals, who threatened to kill him if he did not shut up. Ester was then put under pressure to keep the baby quiet... or else. The perpetrators vandalised her office and demanded jewellery and bank cards while slapping the traumatised victims. While they searched the rest of the house for valuables, Steve grabbed the opportunity to contact the police and dialled the emergency number 10111.‘I called them three times while the perpetrators were in the house and they still did not respond. ‘I eventually called a friend and he was here within minutes.‘Unfortunately by then the criminals had already escaped with our money, computer, camera, wedding rings, bank cards and even my shoes,’ said Steve. Business Against Crime is assisting the investigation of the police’s ‘no show’.

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