Marshallino Beukes
A 77-year-old Henties Bay woman has described the terrifying moments she and her 79-year-old husband allegedly faced when five masked suspects entered their home during the early hours of the morning.
According to the latest Nampol weekend crime report, issued by Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the National police spokesperson, the suspects allegedly forced open a window to gain entry to the couple’s home at about 02:30 on 8 August.
Police reported that the suspects were armed with a panga, knives and iron bars. According to Nampol, property estimated at N$60 000 was allegedly stolen, including a 9mm pistol with an empty magazine and licence. Police indicated that the total value of the stolen property was still being confirmed.
No arrests have been made and none of the stolen property had been recovered at the time of the police report. Investigations are continuing.
Namib Times subsequently spoke telephonically to one of the victims, who provided further details of the incident. She said she and her husband were asleep in their seafront home when the suspects allegedly entered their bedroom. According to her they were wearing balaclavas and headlamps. She further remarked that the suspects restrained her and her husband on the bed and tied up their dog, which sleeps in the bedroom. “They forcefully took our rings and wristwatches from us, and my husband was bleeding due to the force used. They then took our cell phones, jewellery, computer, camera and cash, among other items,” she said. She further alleged that the suspects forced her husband to open the safe while one of them restrained her.
The elderly lady said the suspects then stood around the bed and discussed what they were going to do with her and her husband. “They were speaking Afrikaans and English. One of them immediately said, ‘Let’s just kill them and get it over with,’” she recalled.
According to the victim, the suspects ultimately left without physically harming either her or her husband.
Despite the ordeal, she said the couple were grateful that they had not been seriously injured. “We can only praise God for His divine protection, although it was a terrible and unpleasant experience,” she said.
The woman also expressed concern about what she described as an increase in housebreaking incidents in Henties Bay. She said incidents of this nature were worrying for residents and claimed that it also reflects negatively on the town and, in her view, on policing in the area. The couple are reportedly recovering from the ordeal and were not seriously injured.
Police investigations into the incident are continuing, and anyone with information that could assist investigators is urged to contact the Henties Bay police station, or the nearest police station.
By Marshallino Beukes
