Elderly couple in Carlton, south Sydney, ‘played dead’ to survive home invasion
Incredible Way Grandfather Narrowly Survived Terrifying Home Invasion By Three Masked Gunmen Who Demanded Money In The Middle Of The Night
- Dimos Scoullis, 81, and wife Vicky, 76, robbed at gunpoint
- Mr. Scoullis played dead, causing robbers to flee in panic
A grandfather who was beaten at gunpoint and robbed by a gang of masked men scared them into fleeing by ‘acting dead’.
Dimos Scoullis, 81, and his wife, Vicky, 76, had their home in Carlton, South Sydney, raided shortly before 11pm Tuesday by three masked and armed men.
Mrs. Scoullis, who was sleeping on the couch downstairs, was held down by one of the intruders while the other two went upstairs.
There they found Mr. Scoullis in the couple’s bedroom, where they beat him up and put a gun to his head, demanding money.
Dimos Scoullis, who runs Hellenic Patisserie in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west with his wife and their sons, was robbed at gunpoint by three masked men on Tuesday night – but panicked them into fleeing when he played dead
Vicky Scoullis, 76, was sleeping on the couch when the intruders came in, with one of them holding her
But Mr. Scoullis then played dead, causing the robbers to panic into thinking they had killed him.
They fled the house with a small amount of money and a safe in the elderly couple’s Toyota Camry.
But the unlucky burglars crashed the car 50 feet away because they couldn’t drive manually.
Mr Scoullis was hospitalized with a head injury after the terrifying incident.
Their son George said his father “did what he had to do to keep Mum safe.”
“Mum, she’s having a bit of a hard time mentally,” he said 9News.
“Physically she’s fine. Dad is the opposite, he’s more physical, he’s hurt, but mentally he’s one of those old tough guys.’
The thieves took off in the elderly couple’s Toyota Camry, but crashed 50 feet away because they couldn’t drive manually
The couple’s son, George, said his father was a “tough old guy” but his mother is mentally struggling with the violent robbery
NSW Police Commander Rohan Cramsie said: ‘This is the scenario nightmares are made of.’
Police believe it was a targeted attack, as the thieves seemed to know where certain items were in the house.
The couple run the popular Hellenic Patisserie in Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west.
The police are investigating the robbery.