/ 24 June 2005

Robbers armed with snake rob domestic worker

A domestic worker was threatened with a snake while five masked robbers ransacked her employer’s house in Honeydew, north of Johannesburg on Thursday, police said.

Inspector Yolande Bouwer said on Friday R90 000 worth of household goods including a TV set, a hi-fi, DVD player, jewellery and clothes were stolen.

Bouwersaid the 27-year-old heard the door opening while she was going about her duties. She went to investigate and found a large black and grey snake on the doorstep.

Five men — their faces covered with pantyhose — entered the house, asked if there was a safe and tied her up in the main bedroom while they ransacked the house.

One of the men had a shotgun.

The robbers then took the woman to the toilet, were she was ”guarded” by the snake while they loaded their loot into their car.

Bouwer said the robbers then took their snake and fled the scene. They were still at large. – Sapa