Armed home invaders flee Silverglen crime scene as shot resident fights back
The Lakeview Road entrance to the Silverglen Nature Reserve has been closed off due to safety concerns in 2019.
Image: Supplied
A SILVERGLEN resident was shot during a home invasion where criminals removed concrete slabs to gain access.
The community is now on high alert as CPF officials believe criminals are actively monitoring the area, with local security resources stretched thin.
The wounded resident bravely fought off the attackers, who fled leaving weapons behind.
“Just after 4am, intruders removed concrete slab fences from a home in Lakeview Drive and entered the yard next door. They unscrewed the burglar guards in the front window and broke into the house. A resident from the home, who moved in just three months ago, woke up and a struggle ensued," said Vish Mudaly, chairperson of the Silverglen CPF.
“The resident was shot in the arm. He bravely fought the intruders, who fled empty handed leaving behind a gun, a knife, a bag and a cell phone. They ran into the Silverglen Nature Reserve and are at large."
He believed the intruders were the same suspects who tried to break into a house in Fleetside Road in Silverglen, just before 2pm on Saturday. A resident raised the alarm that three suspects attempted to break into her house.
“When the alarm activated, they fled towards Lakeview Drive. This incident is deeply concerning, and further reinforces the reality that our community is being actively monitored by a criminal element."
He said they were concerned about the timing of this attack.
"On this particular night, the CPF ended patrols earlier than usual to assist temples within our footprint with the Kavady prayer, scheduled for early on Sunday morning. In the absence of visible patrols, the home invasion occurred.”
He said Silverglen currently had one private security patrol vehicle servicing the entire footprint, with little to no consistent external support.
“While we acknowledge and appreciate the strong working relationship between the Silverglen CPF and the Croftdene CPF team, this support alone is not sufficient to meet the ongoing safety demands of our area. It is not sustainable for the safety of this community to rely solely on CPF members, placing themselves on the front line every day. When patrols are stretched or unavailable, the community becomes extremely vulnerable."
Mudaly said CPF members were experiencing burnout, and without proper resourcing, they could not effectively fulfil its mandate.