The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net 

A TRAUMATISED Blair Estates family held up at gun point and robbed at their home are calling for much -needed upgrades to police stations to help efficiently assist crime victims.

On Friday, Brooks Russell’s wife Rachael, their two daughters, aged nine and four, and a family friend also aged nine arrived home after a school pickup around 3.45pm when they were confronted by a man armed with a gun.

Police officers did not arrive at the home until almost one hour later. Those officers told the family that they would still have to go into the Wulff Road police station and make a formal complaint. Several unsuccessful calls to 919 had been made up until that time.

Mr Russell said: “After we went into the station to make the report, although the officers were extremely helpful, they had no equipment to efficiently do their jobs. Their computers are ancient and they are still writing reports by hand. I know for sure that you and I have more technology than they do and there are piles and piles of files all around.

“As a male and a husband when you need help and don’t get the kind of assistance you need from the law, I can see how and why other men out there take matters into their own hands and act how they see fit. It could be for the same reason as I am stating now.”

Up to press time, the Russells were still in the process of assisting police with a composite sketch of the suspect. Authorities were also able to obtain a picture of the suspect’s vehicle from a neighbour’s security camera.

A gun was held to Mrs Russell’s head by the suspect after she had taken the three children into the house and was returning to the car to collect their bags.

The unmasked gunman ordered her back into the house, where he forced the family to lie face down on the floor.

Mr Russell, who was at work during the ordeal, said: “[The gunman] started cursing and screaming at my wife and the kids, demanding to know where the money and the jewellery was.

“My wife told him we didn’t have any in house, which is true, so he took her at gun point into the bedroom. My wife didn’t know what to expect at this point. He kept asking, ‘Where is your husband, when is he coming home?’”

The man searched the bedroom for valuables as he kept the gun pointed on Mrs Russell. He then returned to the home’s living room area from which he took a computer, a television and other items before leaving the house.

As soon as he left, Mrs Russell locked herself and the children in the bedroom, fearful that the armed robber would return. She then called 919 and her husband, but could only reach Mr Russell.

“My wife called 919 several times and couldn’t get through. I called 919 and couldn’t get anyone. About five to six people were calling on our behalf and had no luck. When we finally got through to 919 about 10 minutes later, the person on the other end said he didn’t know where Blair Estates was so he didn’t know if he could send a police car there. Which is just ridiculous,” said Mr Russell.