A KwaZulu-Natal woman and her partner received an unwelcome surprise on her 66th birthday when three armed men accosted and forced them into their Blueberry Drive home in the Brindhaven area of Verulam on Wednesday.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said that on Wednesday, just before 7.20pm, the Rusa operations centre received a call for assistance.
Balram said when reaction officers arrived at the scene, they heard a woman screaming for assistance.
“Officers tactically entered the yard and located the woman on her veranda. Her legs were bound with Sellotape,” he said.
He said the woman, who was celebrating her 66th birthday with her 62-year-old partner, were the victims of a home invasion.
Detailing the events that unfolded after reaction officers arrived, Balram said Rusa members penetrated the house and located a male victim in one of the bedrooms.
“His hands, feet and mouth were bound with Sellotape,” he said, adding that officers removed the restraints from the couple.
According to Balram, the couple explained that they were in the process of entering their home after being dropped off by a family member at about 4pm when the incident occurred.
“Three armed males accosted and forced them into the house. They bound and gagged their victims before they ransacked the home in search of valuables,” he said.
Balram said the female victim managed to free herself three hours later and raised the alarm.
“The female victim was returning to her residence after celebrating her birthday with family.”
A television, clothing and several household items were stolen, while a microwave was recovered in the yard.
The Mercury