Elderly woman robbed in Lady Slipper break-in

TWO men have been arrested after a 70-year-old woman was assaulted and robbed on her smallholding near the fire-damaged farmlands around Lady Slipper mountain early yesterday.

The robbery took place shortly after midnight, when three men climbed into the house after breaking a window.

The plot is situated on Slipper Close Road, between Rocklands Road and the R334, only kilometres from where fires last week tore through farms and destroyed at least eight houses in the Van Stadens gorge.

However, police say the attack is not linked to the recent spate of fires in any way.

The suspects were arrested at midday. A third suspect is still at large.

Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the woman, who lives alone, had awoken to the sound of glass breaking.

“The men entered and threatened to kill her if she failed to comply. It would appear that the men were unarmed but made verbal threats,” Janse van Rensburg said.

The elderly woman, who cannot walk without a walking aid, complied with the men’s demands.

“The three suspects then ransacked the house and stole money, a cellphone and smaller items before fleeing on foot.”

Janse van Rensburg said after the attack, the woman was unable to find her walking aid.

“Eventually, she located a working phone inside her bedroom and called the neighbours.”

Officers on the scene said the men threatened to smother the woman should she not comply with their demands.

“They also broke the landline phone, but she managed to find another phone,” an officer said.

Asked if crime had increased in fire-affected areas, Janse van Rensburg said police had not seen any such spike in crime in these areas so far.