After hearing a can of Coca-Cola being opened in the early hours of the morning, a man was prompted by his wife to investigate the unusual sound. Once downstairs, he was confronted by a intruder who attacked him with a sharp object. The home owner sustained various stab wounds and managed to fight off the intruder, after which the police and ambulance services where called. The patient received treatment on the scene for various stab wounds and was rushed to a local hospital, after which he was referred to Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital for further management (to be admitted under a Trauma Surgeon). Emergency Room investigations revealed a blade tip broken off in a stab wound at the back of the head, multiple stab wounds over the chest and abdomen, and further stab wounds sustained on the hands as well as a fracture dislocation of the right shoulder. The patient presented with a tender abdomen, requiring emergency surgery to further investigate the extent of damage, and the possibility of a stabbed myocardium (heart). An exploratory laparotomy reviled a lacerated artery of the greater omentum causing the accumulation of blood in the abdomen. The blood and clots where drained, a minor laceration of the liver noted, and a transosophageal echo confirmed a minor hemopericardium (blood around the heart) - not requiring surgical intervention. The patient was later admitted to the ICU for further management and observations. |
Home invasion South Africa:
House robbery is a growing problem across most provinces, with a national increase of 64% in the last eight years. In 2012, a total of 16 766 home robberies where recorded. Up to 80% of households do not resist intruders, and of those who resisted, 40% where injured compared to the 13% of home owners who where injured when not resisting.
A analysis of 1000 home robberies found that:
- Murder occurred in 2% of incidents
- Rape was reported in 4% of incidents
- Attempted murders were reported in 9% of incidents
- Some form of injury was reported in 13% of incidents
The increase in home robbery has occurred because perpetrators see it as a highgain
low-risk undertaking. The only way that these crimes will be reduced is if the
risk of going to jail for committing these robberies increases significantly. This will
only happen if there are improvements in crime intelligence, investigations and
forensic capacity, along with greater collaboration between the police and
prosecutors.
low-risk undertaking. The only way that these crimes will be reduced is if the
risk of going to jail for committing these robberies increases significantly. This will
only happen if there are improvements in crime intelligence, investigations and
forensic capacity, along with greater collaboration between the police and
prosecutors.
- Lizette Lancaster, Manager of the Crime and Justice Hub, ISS Pretoria
- Crowbar gang break-in caught on CCTV 25/07/2015 (Cape Argus)
Factors that help prevent and minimize the risk of residential robberies:
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- Understanding and Preventing Home Invasion in South Africa 20 May 2010
- ISS Africa Today: What do we know about Home Robberies in South Africa?
An Injury and Prevention Awareness Project brought to you by Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital Trauma & Emergency Centre.