Children see gun placed to dad’s head

Landscaper Devon Awong, 31, said he was struck in the face with a gun butt as his children watched.

His 82-year-old father was also in the house. Awong said he was able to cry out for help and neighbours including an off-duty police officer identified as PC Villafana, ran to the family’s assistance.

By the time they arrived however, the bandit had already escaped in a car, taking Awong’s $1,700 cellphone.

A gold-coloured Nissan Tiida, believed to be the getaway car, was later intercepted in the Longdenville area with a man at the steering-wheel and a woman and an eight-year-old boy seated in the back. The bandit was not in the car.

Police have since interrogated the owner of the car which they believe was used previously in criminal activities. Police said an arrest is imminent. A shaken Awong yesterday said he was advised to get counselling for his children aged two, seven, 12 and 18. “My children are in a mess. They started to cry when the man put the gun to my head,” Awong said.

According to a police report, at about 9.15 pm, Awong responded to a knock on the door and was confronted by the gunman. “I wrestled with him to prevent him from coming in, but he broke the door and I fell. He hit me a gun butt and told me, ‘pass the cash.’ I told him I had no money and I started to make noise. When my cousins came and started shouting for me to open the back door, the bandit grabbed my phone and then left.” PC Villafana later contacted the Brasso police and an all-points bulletin was issued giving police the make, colour and license plate number of the getaway car. The man and woman found by police inside the car, were interrogated before being released.