The elderly man was left traumatised by the incident after he found the burglars inside his house in the early hours of the morning
IPELENG residents living in Chris Merris Street have to sleep with one eye open following a recent spate of burglaries.
On Thursday night three houses were targeted by what residents believe is the same group of men.
The owner of one of the houses was robbed at knifepoint.
The elderly man was left traumatised by the incident after he found the burglars inside his house in the early hours of the morning.
“I came out of the bathroom and found three men in my living room. They did not say anything but immediately took out their knives. Then they continued to ransack the house and put some of my household items in a big bag they were carrying. When I started to scream they ran away,” said the man.
At another house in the street a gate was removed, which the residents believe the burglars intended to collect later.
The homeowner did not hear anything but found the gate standing next to the fence the next morning.
At the third house, the burglars were caught in the act and ran away before they could force open a security gate.
The owner of the house said that she did not hear anything either until her son started shouting when he saw men fiddling with the security door.
The residents, who say they have been “terrorised” by burglars since last year, believe that it is the same group of people involved.
The residents said that their cars are broken into while they are sleeping, their security gates are hacked open and their windows smashed.
“Although we did not see their faces, we think it is the same group of men who loiter around our quiet street, peeping into our yards, during the day. They are fearless and patrol our area as if they own it.
“They usually strike at around the same time, although it is not every night,” said one of the residents.
The residents suspect that the culprits might be living nearby as they seem to know exactly when to hit.
“One of those involved in the break-ins is very tall. When we see him we are afraid to even look him in the eye because he walks like a real thug.”
The residents have appealed to members of the community not to buy stolen items.
