A woman was bound, gagged and robbed of money, jewellery and a cellphone in her home at a retirement village in Port Elizabeth late on Saturday.
Police spokesperson Captain Johann Rheeder said the incident took place at around 11pm at the Kragga Kamma Uit-spanning Retirement Village in Ralston Road, Fernglen.
Rheeder declined to name the woman, who is 64.
“The victim was watching television and heard a noise at her back door,” he said.
“She did not think much of it at first, believing that the noise had been made by neighbours.
“But two men approached her, telling her to be quiet.”
Rheeder said the men tied her up and gagged her by sticking a rag into her mouth.
“They took an undisclosed amount of money, a Nokia cellphone and jewellery and then left on foot,” he said.
“The jewellery included a gold bracelet and a gold medical chain engraved with diabetes-related information.
“Both of these items had the victim’s name and other details engraved on them.
“We are asking the public to keep an eye out for these items and, if they encounter them, report it to the Mount Road Police.”
Rheeder said it was believed the suspects jumped over the perimeter fence before forcing the victim’s back door open.
The victim is understood to live alone and, while shocked and traumatised by the robbery, to not have been physically injured.
There were no details available yesterday on how the woman freed herself.