Brutal attack
2009-02-26
Lise Beyers
THE owners of a construction company saw their lives flash before their eyes recently, when they were held up by two armed men. Wilma and Carlo Chistolini had been doing renovation work on commercial properties in the heart of Wellington, Church Street, when they were attacked in broad day light. On the property is a flat in which an elderly woman lives. Wilma arrived at the site last Friday morning at 11:00 and became suspicious when she could not find her husband or other employees on site. “I phoned his cellphone, but their was no reply. I went to the site office, and as I opened the door, a man pulled me in. “All I could see were surgical gloves and guns. The elderly lady who owns the property, Mrs van Niekerk, was cowering in a corner, and my husband and three of our employees were tied up in the cloakroom. “I was thrown to the floor and repeatedly threatened. They wanted money, and when they could not find any in my handbag, they threatened to cut the old lady’s fingers off. “I told them that there was money in the side pocket of my handbag. It was more than R9 500 which was the weekly wages for our employees.” Wilma was then beaten over the head with a firearm and she and the elderly lady were tied up. The men then fled, also taking four cellphones and locking their victims inside the office. “I somehow managed to free myself and helped the others. I also found a spare key to unlock the door.” They then discovered that the robbers had also taken a bakkie which was on site. It was later found abandoned in Kraaifontein. A week before this incident, Carlo was robbed of tools when dropping off employees in Kraaifontein. The Monday after the latest attack, one of their employees did not arrive for work. Police are investigating all possible leads.
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