Elderly couple held hostage in their own home
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 9
Content Warning: This article mentions violence and crime, such as home invasion and physical assault, on elderly individuals, which may be sensitive to some readers. Discretion is advised.
It's a shocking scenario that none of us would ever want to find ourselves in—a quiet evening interrupted by glass shattering, followed by the frightening sight of intruders in your own home.
Yet, a nightmare of this sort is exactly what happened to one household recently.
An elderly couple from the Sunshine Coast endured a night of terror when four armed men invaded their home in Beerwah, holding them captive and making off with their cash and possessions.
According to Queensland police, the incident occurred around 11:30 pm on Monday when the four hooded men, armed with baseball bats and a firearm, smashed a glass sliding door to gain entry into the couple's home.
Two of the men entered the couple's bedroom, holding them hostage while the others ransacked their home. The 75-year-old man was assaulted with a bat, a brutal act that left him with a suspected broken arm. The intruders then stole cash, possessions, and the couple's mobile phones, leaving them with no means to call for help.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield said that the couple could not call the authorities and had to drive nearly 30 minutes to Caboolture Police Station to report the attack.
'Pretty harrowing for them to drive under those circumstances, but they felt that was the best opportunity for them to report the matter,' Sergeant Mansfield said.
The man was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and was discharged on Tuesday morning. The couple, understandably terrified, have returned home, while their family members have declined to comment about the incident.
Sergeant Mansfield said it was unclear if this 'terrifying' and 'really violent' crime was targeted or the result of a mistaken address.
'It seems a very strange happening for them. There is no indication that there was any animosity between them or any other persons that they're aware of,' he said.
‘They’re pretty terrified, obviously.’
The police are currently investigating the incident and are appealing to the community for help.
Sergeant Mansfield said they didn’t know if the four men left in a car or on foot.
'We're really hoping that someone in the community observed something,' he said.
'Some dashcam [footage or] any CCTV in the area will be really helpful.'
A business nearby, run by the victims' son-in-law, provided security footage to police.
The intruders are described as 'potentially in their 20s', and forensic investigators collected fingerprints in the house on Tuesday afternoon.
Home security is any resident’s top priority. In a previous story, the State Crime Prevention Unit recommended several measures to deter break-ins to your home. They also emphasised that these deterrence measures will make burglars think twice before breaking in. Learn more about the recommendations here.
Members, in case of emergencies such as this one, call 000 or head to your nearest police station immediately.
What do you think about this story? Have you taken steps to secure your home against incidents like these? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
It's a shocking scenario that none of us would ever want to find ourselves in—a quiet evening interrupted by glass shattering, followed by the frightening sight of intruders in your own home.
Yet, a nightmare of this sort is exactly what happened to one household recently.
An elderly couple from the Sunshine Coast endured a night of terror when four armed men invaded their home in Beerwah, holding them captive and making off with their cash and possessions.
According to Queensland police, the incident occurred around 11:30 pm on Monday when the four hooded men, armed with baseball bats and a firearm, smashed a glass sliding door to gain entry into the couple's home.
Two of the men entered the couple's bedroom, holding them hostage while the others ransacked their home. The 75-year-old man was assaulted with a bat, a brutal act that left him with a suspected broken arm. The intruders then stole cash, possessions, and the couple's mobile phones, leaving them with no means to call for help.
Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield said that the couple could not call the authorities and had to drive nearly 30 minutes to Caboolture Police Station to report the attack.
'Pretty harrowing for them to drive under those circumstances, but they felt that was the best opportunity for them to report the matter,' Sergeant Mansfield said.
The man was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and was discharged on Tuesday morning. The couple, understandably terrified, have returned home, while their family members have declined to comment about the incident.
Sergeant Mansfield said it was unclear if this 'terrifying' and 'really violent' crime was targeted or the result of a mistaken address.
'It seems a very strange happening for them. There is no indication that there was any animosity between them or any other persons that they're aware of,' he said.
‘They’re pretty terrified, obviously.’
The police are currently investigating the incident and are appealing to the community for help.
Sergeant Mansfield said they didn’t know if the four men left in a car or on foot.
'We're really hoping that someone in the community observed something,' he said.
'Some dashcam [footage or] any CCTV in the area will be really helpful.'
A business nearby, run by the victims' son-in-law, provided security footage to police.
The intruders are described as 'potentially in their 20s', and forensic investigators collected fingerprints in the house on Tuesday afternoon.
Home security is any resident’s top priority. In a previous story, the State Crime Prevention Unit recommended several measures to deter break-ins to your home. They also emphasised that these deterrence measures will make burglars think twice before breaking in. Learn more about the recommendations here.
Key Takeaways
- An elderly Sunshine Coast couple were held captive and robbed by four armed men in their Beerwah home.
- The men wielded baseball bats and a firearm and allegedly assaulted the 75-year-old male homeowner, causing a suspected broken arm.
- The victims were forced to drive nearly 30 minutes to report the incident at Caboolture Police Station due to the robbers stealing their mobile phones.
- The robbery has left the police unsure if it was a targeted attack or a mistaken address, and they are encouraging any community member with potential evidence to come forward.
What do you think about this story? Have you taken steps to secure your home against incidents like these? Share your thoughts in the comments below.