Johannesburg - Would-be burglars got more than they bargained for when they broke into a Kibler Park home owned by crime intelligence officers.
Kicking the door open to gain entry, one of them was confronted by the barrel of a gun. As he tried to run off, he was shot in the genitals and legs.
Husband and wife team Constable Mpho and Captain Thandi Mejelo were home at about 2pm on Wednesday when Mpho heard a car revving. He looked out the window to see strange men at their gate.
“My husband said to me: ‘I think criminals are visiting us today,’ and went to get his gun. I thought he was joking until I saw what was happening. I also went to fetch my gun. It was surreal,” said Thandi.
The armed duo then took up positions: Mpho pointing at the door while Thandi pointed at the front window.
After disengaging the gate motor, the men reversed the green VW Golf they had arrived in straight to the front door.
“They carried guns. The way the car was positioned, it looked like they were planning to load whatever they found in the house straight into the car,” said Thandi.
CCTV footage recorded by the cameras mounted on the house next door shows one of the men going around the house and checking the locks.
When he realised the security gate wasn’t locked, he opened it, kicked open the front door and went inside, only to find himself with a gun in his face.
The man turned and ran, but he didn’t get far before Thandi fired through the window, severely injuring him.
The other two men jumped into the car and started the engine. Thandi emptied the rest of her bullets into the car.
As the men drove out of the yard, they knocked the side of the pavement, puncturing the car’s front wheels.
“They abandoned the car and ran to the nearby golf club,” said Mpho.
A security patrol later arrested the pair.
“They are now in police custody. The injured one is at Bara (Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital) under police guard,” said Thandi.
Barely five minutes after the incident, the couple’s children, aged 12 and 14, arrived home from school.
“I am just grateful my children were not in the house. I don’t know what would have happened had they been here because children are going to scream when they see guns,” Thandi said.
A similar incident occurred in 2013. Robbers broke in to their home shortly after they moved in.
“We also had to fire shots to chase them away then.
“But we are not moving anywhere; we refuse to run from criminals,” Thandi said.
The Star