Community in shock after armed robbery leaves man and pit bull dead in Crossmoor

A TRAGIC armed robbery in Crossmoor has left a man and his pit bull dead, raising concerns about escalating crime in the area.

Jeeva Pillay, 63, of Bottlebrush Crescent, was accosted by an armed robber who attempted to gain entry into his home, around 3pm yesterday (Monday).

It has been reported that Pillay had just returned home from the temple and was closing the front gate to his home when he was confronted by the robber.

A scuffle ensued, and the suspect pulled a firearm and fired several shots at Pillay and then at the dog, who tried to defend his owner. 

Pillay sustained two gunshots to his leg and two to his stomach. After the shooting, the suspect fled the property.

Pillay was transported to hospital and the dog to the local vet. However, both Pillay and the dog passed on shortly after. 

Residents said they were now living in fear as this was the second deadly attack in the area in the last week.

Last week, Jayseelan Jayce Naicker, 45, a father of three of Montford, was shot twice and died 15 minutes later at the gate of the home he was delivering food to in Crossmoor.

Naicker had jumped off his vehicle at the home where the food was to be delivered, and called out for the home owners.

During this time, two men on foot approached him. One of them was armed with a gun and shot at Naicker. They fled with his cellphone only.

His brother-in-law, Kogilan Pillay, said Naicker was a private transporter.

At around 7pm on the night he was killed, he was tasked to transport a meal from Swaadisht in Croftdene to a family in Crossmoor, when he was accosted by two men.

“Jayce was shot in his abdomen and on his arm. He died 15 minutes later. We found out about the shooting from a woman who lived on Crossmoor Drive. She knew somebody who lived close by to Jayce and called the person, who in turn notified us.

“We want justice. We are praying that the perpetrator/s are arrested. Jayce was a hardworking and reliable man who worked long hours to support his wife, children and his mom. He has three sons, aged 3, 15 and 22. Our family is devastated.

At the time, Zain Kassim, chairperson of the Crossmoor Community Policing Forum (CPF) said it appeared the two suspects two were linked to other crimes in the area.

“It was a petty crime that he had lost his life for. The suspects ran into the transit camp on Crossmoor Drive.  The man’s family came to the scene, and it was heartbreaking to witness their devastation. He lost his dad two years ago, and the family is still coming to terms with that,” Kassim added.

He said the transit camp was a haven for criminals coming into Chatsworth and had led to an increase in crime.

“This is not the first incident where someone was held up with a firearm on Crossmoor Drive. We have noted an increase in armed robberies - where people walking on the road have been robbed - and an increase in house robberies. 

“The common complaint is that the suspects are two men on foot. We are concerned about this. The residents need to start taking a stand against crime by becoming more involved in neighbourhood watches.

“Only a few residents come out and participate in the neighbourhood watches. If residents do their part to keep the area safe, we can turn things around. We cannot rely on law enforcement, who have a limited amount of manpower, to protect us,” Kassim said.

Crossmoor CPF PRO, Kishoe Hambapersad, said crime was out of control in the Crossmoor area.

“There has been a recent hike in crime with weapons. Residents are basically living in fear of these criminals,”  he said.

The POST