Girl prays during robbery
2008-07-04 09:43
Pretoria - A Centurion family was attacked while they were sleeping at about 03:00 on Thursday by armed men who tied them up with ties and then stole firearms, money, three cars and other possessions.
"I woke up with a fright right before they came walking into my room and I then thought of the Lord and that He is with me and I started praying," said Erika de Vries, 10, on Thursday.
The four robbers pushed clothing into the mouths of Erika and her parents, Mimie, 45, and Professor Ian de Vries, 52.
They then stole three firearms, of which two were heirlooms, as well as cellphones, laptops, computers, a radio and other possessions. They then fled in the family's three cars.
Police trainer
"Fortunately they left my razor, so I can at least shave today," said Professor De Vries, a former police director, with a smile.
He is currently teaching police students and members of the Department of Correctional Services at the Tshwane University of Technology. He said the robbers had broken down their sliding door and security gate to get access to the house.
"I woke with a fright when one robber took me by the shoulders and immediately turned me over so I was lying on my stomach.
"They brought Erika to our room and bound all three of us with our hands behind our backs," he said.
His wife, also an ex-training officer in the police, said she woke up when the robbers switched on the bedroom light. "I was so scared they were going to kill my husband and child. If I had been alone, I would have back-chatted properly," said the primary school teacher.
"I was also scared they would shoot my mom and dad and then I would only have a sister left," said Erika. Her older sister, Iris, 19, was away at a camp.
Professor de Vries said he realised he would have lie quietly otherwise one of the robbers, who was armed with a 9mm pistol, could shoot and kill him. After the attack, he managed to untie Erika's hands. "She was so brave and went looking for scissors and cut us loose".
"It took us 20 minutes to free everyone," he said.
Police have already found two of the family's cars in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, where they had been abandoned. Their silver Opel Corsa bakkie (registration number WPB 569 GP) is still missing.
Part of the crime statistics
"We too are now part of the crime statistics. I'm glad we are getting more police members, but the big challenge is training them well and making provision for enough resources," said Professor De Vries.
Police spokesperson Captain Agnes Huma, said police were investigation the incident.