Moments after a Verulam woman and her partner returned home from celebrating her 66th birthday, they were accosted by robbers, who bound their feet, hands and mouth with cellotape.
Prem Balram, the head of Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), said the incident occurred in Brindhaven on Wednesday evening.
Balram said the Rusa operations centre received a call for assistance at about 7.19pm.
"On arrival at the property, reaction officers heard a female screaming for assistance. Officers tactically entered the yard and located the woman on her veranda. Her legs, hands and mouth were initially bound with cellotape. But she somehow managed to free her hands and remove the tape from her mouth. Her legs were still bound.“
He said Rusa members entered the house and located her 62-year-old partner in one of the bedrooms. His hands, feet and mouth were also bound with cellotape.
"They said they were in the process of entering their home after being dropped off by a family member at about 4pm. Three armed males accosted and forced them into the house. They bound and gagged their victims before they ransacked the home in search of valuables."
Balram said a TV, clothing and several household items were stolen.
"A microwave was recovered in the yard.“