UPDATED: Date of incident corrected.
An elderly woman residing on Rooibok Avenue in Hutten Heights, Newcastle, endured a home invasion on 23 September 2025, in which she was assaulted, bound, and gagged as a lone intruder ransacked her property.
In response, Magenta Security spokesperson Jan van Rensburg confirmed the incident occurred shortly before 11:00. A young man rushed to the company’s offices to raise the alarm after hearing a woman’s desperate screams from a neighbouring residence.
“We immediately responded and found an elderly woman tied up in her house. She had been hit with something on the back of her head, and she explained that the suspect had gagged her with an item of her clothing, while he went through her house, stealing jewellery and her cellphone,” stated Van Rensburg.
Furthermore, the victim’s screams emerged only after the intruder removed the gag to demand the location of her gold reserves, which she did not possess. “She explained to us that he asked where she kept her gold, which she doesn’t own, and it was during this time that she screamed,” explained Van Rensburg.
As the cries intensified, the assailant fled the scene. Consequently, police have now launched a full-scale investigation.
Furthermore, Van Rensburg stated that the intruder gained entry undetected through an unlocked sliding door. “People are urged to lock their doors, irrespective of the time. Also, residents are encouraged to ensure that they do not even leave a hosepipe outside in their yards, because someone might jump into their yard to snatch the hosepipe and then see that the doors to your home are unlocked,” elaborated Van Rensburg.
Building on this, the Newcastle Community Policing Forum (CPF) has warned of a sharp rise in trespassing offences across the city. Areas such as Lennoxton, Paradise, Aviary Hill, and Hutten Heights are identified as primary hotspots for this trend in home invasions and opportunistic thefts.
The CPF elaborated on the tactics employed by these criminals. “Residents are advised to be vigilant against these incidents, as would-be criminals often use these opportunities to investigate homes (entry/exit points or free-standing store-rooms), its occupants (general comings and goings), and will often steal any accessible items of worth. Worryingly, many of these incidents have been reported during high traffic times, as they are used by offenders to hide in plain sight,” stated the Newcastle CPF, in its statement.
Ultimately, this vicious attack exposes the critical vulnerabilities in Newcastle’s residential security landscape. Criminals are exploiting even the most minor lapses, striking in broad daylight and targeting the most defenceless among us. Doors and windows must be secured without exception, valuables kept out of sight, and essential defences—such as alarms, CCTV systems, and panic buttons—installed to mitigate such threats.
Moreover, authorities are calling on residents to play an active part in fortifying their neighbourhoods. Immediate reporting of suspicious activity, recording of unfamiliar vehicles or persons, and collaboration through community policing forums are essential to disrupt criminal networks.
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4 Responses
Sadly those with cameras on their properties, are never will to share their video footage of criminal activities, why, who knows …….. vandalized electrical boxes is another problem……
This incident took place on the 23rd not 28th.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The date has been corrected, and the matter has been addressed with the journalist.
Apart from Allen Street when is the municipality going to repair the disgusting condition of the tar section between Hardwick/Scott street to Ayliff street and Hardwick/Harding to Ayliff street? These sections are a disgrace to Newcastle.