Robbers thank family for co-operating
2012-08-22 09:35
Bloemfontein - A gang of robbers that overpowered a Free State family on their farm over the weekend thanked them for their co-operation before fleeing with cash, cellphones, jewellery and the family car.
Volksblad reported that the robbers over the weekend tied up Gerhard Karsten, 38, his wife Zurina, 36, their son Adriaan, 11, and a farmworker, Shadrack Louw.
Toddlers Thian, 2, and Mia, 1, were locked in the room with them.
The robbers told the family they had to understand that this was how they got money, just as the family got money from farming.
One of the robbers at one stage walked with Mia on his hip when she was crying.
The robbers asked for the R165 000 cash in the house that Karsten had made from selling sheep.
Karsten’s wife told how the robbers held them up, “They said it was a robbery. They wouldn’t hurt us but we had to co-operate.”
While one of the robbers was very aggressive and kicked Karsten while he was tied up the other was very friendly. Another robber was outside the house.
“My advice to people in a situation like this is not to be a tough guy, not to try and be a hero. If they get a fright, they will shoot you,” said Karsten.
