Elderly couple's ordeal exposes wave of violent burglaries

Police have warned homeowners to tighten security as housebreaking cases rise sharply across the country, with violent gangs increasingly targeting residential properties.

“Recently we have seen a number of housebreaking incidents being reported at various police stations,” Namibian Police spokesperson Inspector Elifas Kuwinga told Namibian Sun on Monday.

“It is a concern for members of the public and equally a concern for the Namibian Police Force.”

His warning comes as fear spreads across some of Windhoek's oldest suburbs following a string of violent home invasions targeting elderly residents.

Residents in Olympia, Academia, Pioneers Park and Cimbebasia believe the attacks bear striking similarities and suspect a five-man syndicate is stalking pensioners before ambushing them inside their homes.

The latest attack unfolded on Sunday morning in Olympia, where 84-year-old Klaus Dieter Lucks and his 82-year-old wife, Heidrun, were ambushed by five armed men who investigators believe hid inside the property overnight before attacking the elderly couple.

Former RDP member of parliament Heiko Lucks, the couple's son, described what happened as a carefully planned assault.

"Five armed men entered the property, probably sometime during the night. They were hiding in the yard, and at around nine o'clock my father opened the sliding door to go outside. The moment he opened the door, they overwhelmed him. We believe they had been waiting there because, by nine o'clock, it was already broad daylight," Lucks told Namibian Sun on Monday.

Beaten, threatened

He said the suspects, all armed with handguns, struck his father over the head until he briefly lost consciousness before dragging him back inside.

"They hit my father over the head, knocking him unconscious for a while. They then entered the house and closed all the curtains so that nobody could see what was happening inside.”

The elderly couple were tied up with shoelaces while the robbers ransacked every room in the house.

"My father is 84 and my mother is 82, so they are both quite frail. They were badly beaten and repeatedly kicked," Lucks said.

He said his father was forced to hobble through the house with his hands and feet bound while showing the robbers where valuables were kept.

"They stole everything from the television and computer to hunting rifles, handguns, jewellery, clothing, shoes, alcohol and even meat from the freezer."

The suspects allegedly loaded the stolen goods into Klaus Dieter's Nissan 1400 bakkie before fleeing.

For the family, however, the stolen possessions pale in comparison to the violence inflicted on the elderly couple.

"The worst part was how they treated my parents. My mother could barely move, and whenever she moved her head even slightly, they kicked her again. She is very frail and could not do anything to resist, yet they treated her terribly," Lucks said.

Klaus Dieter received stitches for head injuries before being discharged from hospital, while Heidrun remains admitted to Windhoek Central Hospital's Pohamba Hospital, where doctors are monitoring her for possible internal injuries.

Planned ambush

Lucks believes the attackers had spent days studying his parents' daily routine.

"They had clearly been watching the property. My father follows the same routine every morning. He opens the door at a certain time, and they knew exactly how he operated."

He urged residents with elderly relatives to remain alert.

"People need to be aware that individuals may be sitting near building sites or open areas while observing a house. They watch routines and build a picture of what is happening. Elderly people, in particular, often have fixed daily routines, which unfortunately makes them easy targets."

His warning mirrors concerns previously raised by Academia resident Willie Grobler following another violent robbery involving pensioners last month.

"They struck an elderly couple in exactly the same way," Grobler said, describing how Gert Güntzel and his wife were attacked after suspects allegedly entered their property before dawn and waited for the homeowner to deactivate the alarm.

"The burglars enter your property before you have even gotten up. They strike the moment you unlock the back door and deactivate the alarm to let the dogs out. They are violent and can seriously injure you. Stay alert," Grobler warned.

Violent invasions

Kuwinga said police visibility and crime prevention operations would continue, but urged residents to strengthen security measures.

Police records show several similar attacks over the past eight months.

In December, four suspects tied up two women during a robbery in Academia, stealing firearms, electronics, cash and a vehicle worth more than N$1.3 million.

In January, six armed suspects stormed a Ludwigsdorf home and robbed occupants of laptops, cellphones and cash.

In March, an elderly Academia couple were tied up with electrical cables and locked in separate rooms while robbers stole property worth about N$140 000.

On 29 May, five suspects allegedly cut through an electric fence at an Academia home, tied pensioners up with shoelaces and escaped with firearms, ammunition, electronics and cash.

[email protected]