Robbers spend hours fixing getaway vehicle during home invasion

In an unusual twist, armed robbers who invaded a Mahlabatini home in KwaZulu-Natal this week waited at the property for three hours before fleeing.

The long wait was not because robbing the household of its valuables took a long time. They were fixing a Toyota Hilux meant to be the getaway vehicle. The incident occurred on 22 September.

While they made quick work of invading the home of a 35-year-old woman and her four children, including a five-year-old boy, they had to call in reinforcements to help fix the household’s Toyota Hilux.

“The victims were tied up using ropes, pantyhose, and other bindings. The attackers accessed the woman’s mobile banking app, transferring R2,500 to an unknown account,” said an Arrive Alive statement.

Robbers called for reinforcements to fix vehicle

The gunmen demanded valuables and also took three Samsung cellphones and a laptop computer.

Witnesses nearby allegedly saw a white bakkie enter the property to help the suspects fix the Toyota Hilux, which wasn’t operational.

The vehicle had a flat battery and flat tyres.

“After the suspects fled, the victims managed to free themselves and alerted Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA). Reaction Officers arrived on the scene and established that the victims were not injured,” said the statement.

A widespread search ensued, but to no avail. No arrests were made, and the suspects were still at large.