A 69-year-old Ruwari woman may have saved herself from further harm with a prayer — asking God to protect her attackers — after two armed suspects broke into her home, robbed her at knifepoint and threatened to kill her in the early hours of Saturday morning.

When the two men ordered her to drive them to a nearby ATM, the elderly woman asked if they could pray together first. In her prayer, she switched over to English asking God to protect “the two gentlemen” wherever they were going next.

A neighbour, at whose home the victim is now staying, relayed the account to media as the woman is too traumatised to speak for herself.

“The suspects were apparently moved. They changed their minds, pushed her back into the house, locked her inside and fled the scene using her keys to exit through the main gate,” the neighbour said. “She is very traumatised,” she says of the elderly woman who ordinarily lives alone.

The suspects had gained access to the property in Reservoir Street, Ruwari, at approximately 04:00 by cutting through the electric fence, climbing the perimeter wall and entering through a window with no burglar bars.

Once inside, they confronted the woman, brandished a sharp object and demanded her cellphone, wallet, and jewelry, telling her they were going to kill her.

“When she offered them R100 from her purse, they took the purse, and the additional R200 inside it,” says the neighbour.

They then ordered her to open her banking app on her phone, before taking her outside. They later managed to withdraw two amounts from her bank account.

Police investigating

The victim remained locked inside her home until approximately 09:00, when a neighbour heard her cries for help and contacted the CMAX Security control centre. An officer arrived within minutes and, together with the neighbour, used a bolt cutter to free her.

Brackenfell police officers arrived shortly afterwards and the scene was handed over for further investigation. This is the second incident of an armed robbery involving a pensioner in less than two weeks in the suburb.

ALSO READ: Armed robbers kick in burglar bars and overpower pensioner in Brackenfell

Brackenfell Community Police Forum (CPF) confirmed the incident on behalf of the police, who have opened a case and are investigating.

CPF chair Norman Landry used the incident as an opportunity to remind residents to remain vigilant about home security, particularly in the early morning hours when most households are asleep and vulnerable.

“Keep outside lights on and windows closed at all times,” Landry said, urging homeowners to regularly inspect the condition of their perimeter fencing, burglar bars and access points. He emphasised that even small security oversights such as a window without burglar bars can provide opportunistic criminals with easy access to a property.