Cape Town - A female police officer has been gang-raped in her own home just minutes after going off duty.
Cops say a group of armed men, including two teenagers, ambushed her in front of her house while she was still in full uniform.
The attackers forced the 36-year-old Khayelitsha officer into her vehicle, climbed in with her and robbed her of her handbag.
They then dragged her into her own house and gang-raped her before fleeing.
Two days later, cops arrested a 17- and 19-year-old suspect, as well as a 20-year-old man.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said the unsuspecting female cop was attacked on Saturday at 6.05am after parking her car outside her home.
Van Wyk said: “According to the victim, while busy unlocking (the gate to her home), she looked back and saw two unknown males running towards her.
“She noticed that one was carrying a firearm and the other a knife.
“They demanded money and cellphones and searched her.
“She was still in full police uniform. They forced her to open the vehicle and all three got into the vehicle.
“Thereafter (they) went into her house and raped her.”
Van Wyk said the suspects took her handbag containing an undisclosed amount of cash, a cellphone, lunchbox and wallet with bank and shopping cards.
“Most of the items were recovered in the dustbin outside one of the houses,” he said.
“After gathering all the information, police officers visited all the addresses of the suspects during the early hours of Monday morning and arrested them.
“Three males have been arrested, aged 17, 19 and 20 years old.”
The suspects are due in the Khayelitsha Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, another female cop who wants to remain anonymous said she is terrified of walking in uniform because criminals see them as targets.
The cop said: “Criminals don’t care that you’re a law enforcer, they will do what they want.
“People are supposed to seek safety in us but we live in fear and we also need protection.
“I am terrified of walking anywhere because of my uniform.”
She said it is shocking to be raped in a uniform.
“Being attacked in your own home is worse than being on a job. It’s lower than low, it’s unacceptable,” she said.
“If that police officer had her firearm and shot one of them it would have been treated like the Andries Tatane case.”
Van Wyk said crimes perpetrated against police members will not be tolerated or taken lightly.
“Every endeavour will be taken to apprehend these criminals,” he said.
* Anyone with information about this incident is requested to call 021 360 2433, 021 360 2435, 021 360 4804 or 083 681 9681.
Daily Voice