A horrific home invasion in Lotusville, Verulam, has left a woman severely burned with melted plastic, and her family traumatized. According to Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), the incident occurred on Sunday night, when two armed perpetrators forced their way into the family’s home, demanding valuables.
The woman’s husband reported that they were asleep when they heard a knock at the door, just after 9pm. He opened the door, believing it was another tenant on the property, but was met with violence. The perpetrators began assaulting both him and his wife, using melted plastic to burn the wife in an attempt to force her to disclose the location of money.
Robbery and Assault
The robbers made off with two cellphones, a TV, radio, and approximately R2,000 in cash. The couple was then tied with rope and locked in their room. The perpetrators also assaulted a male family member in another room, robbing him of his bank card and forcing him to provide his PIN, resulting in an amount exceeding R3,000 being withdrawn.
Investigation Underway
It is believed that the suspects gained entry through a rear window that had been damaged four days earlier. The mode of escape is currently unknown, and all the victims sustained injuries in the attack. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is investigating the incident, and SAPS has urged anyone with information to come forward.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety and security of residents in the area. The Verulam community is still reeling from the shock of the attack, and many are calling for increased security measures to be put in place.
Some of the key concerns and questions surrounding the incident include:
- The lack of security measures in place to prevent such incidents
- The need for increased police presence in the area
- The importance of community vigilance and reporting suspicious activity
