Johannesburg - An electric fence, high walls, armed response, an automated driveway gate and surveillance cameras did not deter five thieves from cleaning out a Gauteng home in broad daylight.
A video circulating on social media shows five men in a red VW Polo carrying out the robbery in five minutes at a home in Price Street, Edenvale.
One is seen ringing the intercom twice, to make sure no one is home. He walks over to the driveway gate and tries to derail it, before his accomplice jumps out and breaks the gate with a crowbar.
The car then enters the driveway and four men jump out. One is seen putting on gloves. In seconds they are carrying out television sets, computers, and other electronic valuables from the house.
The driver reverses the car in the yard in preparation for a quick getaway. One of the robbers goes to the end of the driveway and surveys the road before all jump back in the car and speed off, leaving the gate open.
For all this, homeowner Danjay Seosanker, who was enjoying a leisurely Sunday lunch out with his family, is not prepared to move out of his “dream home”.
He believes that Edenvale, known for its high crime rate, needs to be taken back by the community.
This was the third time Seosanker and his wife Pranisha had been victims of crime. Seosanker, who is disabled, said he was grateful that his family, including his children aged 8 and 10, were not home.
In 2013 Seosanker was hijacked when returning home from work.
“They threatened to shoot me but their gun did not work.”
His valuables and company car were taken, and Seosanker upgraded the security at his home. But on Mother’s Day last year the family was hit again.
This time they were visiting friends up the road.
“My helper was home when robbers entered the yard, broke down the front door, and threatened to shoot her. She escaped via the back yard fence and endured injuries from the barb wire.
“Thankfully, swift police work led to the arrest of those guys, who were linked to a spate of crime in the area.”
In the most recent incident, on March 20, Seosanker said they were enjoying lunch in Midrand when their neighbour alerted them to the break-in.
“The security company tried calling my wife but she had her phone in her bag. When my neighbour said we were robbed and our gates and doors were open, we immediately headed home.
“The alarm was still blaring. According to my neighbour, the armed response only arrived when he pressed the panic button for his home.”
Seosanker said what was sad was that the patrol man from the security company was parked 500m from his home.
“He claimed he never received a signal from the control room. These guys could have been caught if the security company reacted quicker.
“I am challenging them - not for monetary gain, but because the community needs to be aware that we currently have a false sense of security.”
Gauteng SAPS spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that no arrests had been made.
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