79-Year-old kidnapped during neighbours home invasion in Verulam

A 79-year-old man was kidnapped from his yard while robbery suspects attacked his neighbour’s home in Cordoba Gardens – KZN.

Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received a call for assistance. On arrival, it was established that five occupants of a white VW Jetta with registration NRB 22336 stopped on Alhambra Drive. Five armed men alighted from the vehicle and accosted the 79-year-old male who was sweeping his driveway. They forced him into the vehicle which drove off with one suspect.

The remaining suspects proceeded to a neighboring property where they held up a 68-year-old woman in the yard. They assaulted the victim and dragged her into her residence. They rounded up three other members of the family which included a 70-year-old male before they ransacked the house in search of valuables. The robbers stole jewelry, five (5) cellphones, a 55-inch TV, a laptop, and cash. The family was then locked in the bathroom. Their getaway vehicle returned and dropped off the kidnapped male before they fled with the stolen goods. The victims managed to force open the door a called for assistance.

The kidnapped victim advised Reaction Officers that he was driven approximately 500 meters away from his home. The suspect repeatedly questioned him with regards to the response time of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) to robberies in the area even though he was linked to another security company. He was informed that he was kidnapped so he would not call for assistance while his nieghbour was being robbed.

Two victims suffered minor injuries and received first aid on the scene.