'Workers' attack family

2003-11-24 19:23

Pretoria - A woman and her two pre-teen daughters were held up by armed robbers posing as casual workers at their house in Erasmia, west of Pretoria, on Monday.

The men knocked at the door shortly before 11:00 and the woman, 38, agreed to make use of their services as gardeners for the day, said police spokesperson Anton Breedt.

One of the men followed the woman as she went back into the house, and held her and the girls, both 11, at gunpoint. His accomplice overpowered a private security guard as he emerged from an outbuilding on the property.

Breedt said the guard was tied up with electric cord.

The woman's husband, who had arrived home, was assaulted.

Breedt said the guard managed to free himself and he and the house owner disarmed the robber. Upon hearing the commotion the other robber came out of the house and the two ran off.

The guard gave chase and arrested one of the men. The other got away with cash, bank cards and a handbag.

Breedt said both firearms used by the robbers were seized.

- SAPA