Armed Robbers Force 4-Year-Old Girl Into Washing Machine During Terrifying Home Invasion

“Armed robbers impersonating police officers allegedly forced a four-year-old girl into a washing machine during a shocking home invasion in Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal. No injuries were reported.”

An armed robbery suspect allegedly forced a four-year-old girl into a washing machine and attempted to switch it on during a terrifying home invasion in Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, December 31, 2025, when four suspects stormed the residence of a 29-year-old Malawian national, who also operates a tuck shop adjacent to her home.

According to the victim, the suspects gained access to the premises by impersonating police officers. Although dressed in civilian clothing, they allegedly displayed South African Police Service (SAPS) name tags and badges and accused the woman of drug dealing.

“One of the suspects was armed with a firearm, while another carried a knife,” a source familiar with the incident said. “The remaining suspects proceeded to ransack both the house and the tuck shop.”

Items reportedly stolen during the robbery included approximately R200 in cash, an undisclosed amount of coins, a flashlight, a sack of cabbage, packs of Russian sausages, several cartons of cigarettes, and the victim’s cellphone.

During the ordeal, one of the suspects allegedly placed the four-year-old child inside a washing machine and attempted to switch it on, but was unsuccessful.

The child, along with her siblings aged nine and three, was not physically injured. The victim was unable to immediately alert authorities as her cellphone had been taken during the robbery.

Community members later came to her assistance, after which Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) was contacted later on Wednesday.

The victim further disclosed to reaction officers that she had been robbed previously at the same premises on December 26, 2025.