South Burnett crime wave: Kingaroy couple robbed at knifepoint in own home

A Kingaroy couple say they’re fearful to sleep in their own home after being targeted by an intruder armed with a knife, as a shocking crime wave continues across the region. Read their disturbing story

A Kingaroy couple is fearful of being in their own home and sleeping in their own beds after being robbed at knifepoint in a terrifying home invasion.

Elaine and Paul Marjoram became the latest victims of a shocking crime wave in the South Burnett when an intruder armed with a knife broke into their home and demanded their car keys.

The couple had been enjoying a relaxing Saturday night when Mr Marjoram heard a noise outside and went to check he’d locked the door.

“Before I could lock it, I heard a voice coming from the sunroom next to the front door,” he said.

“Because it was dark all I could see was a hand holding out a knife. That was until he walked out into the light.

“All I was thinking was, ‘Am I dreaming?’, and then he spoke again. He said, ‘I need a car, I need to get home’.”

Mrs Marjoram described her shock at seeing a stranger holding a knife at her husband’s back.

“All I could see was the knife. He’s in my house with a knife,” she said.

The brave couple focused on staying calm and not provoking a desperate reaction from the intruder, as he led them around their home at knifepoint.

“I didn’t want to give him my car, but he was just getting that bit closer,” Mrs Marjoram said.

“It was really frightening. We’re a bit older, and you hear about older people being targeted, but you never expect this sort of thing to happen to you.”

The intruder took the keys, and Mrs Marjoram’s phone and wallet and attempted to drive off in their car, however he was unable to figure out the steering wheel lock and headed back for the front door.

Mrs Marjoram was fortunately able to lock the door before he could return inside, in what she describes was the most terrifying moment of the night.

Elaine and Paul Marjoram with their puppy Millie. Photo: Holly Cormack

Acting Kingaroy officer-in-charge Sean Relf said the man behind the robbery has not been found, but is believed to have stolen another car from a nearby Kingaroy home, which he quickly abandoned before stealing a car from third property.

Police say this car was used to steal petrol from a Kingaroy service station and then driven to Cherbourg, where it was found by police.

The couple are still coping with the immediate trauma and agonising over what’s still to come, with Mrs Marjoram saying she was even contemplating selling their home out of fear she’ll never feel safe there again.

“From time to time you start to feel a bit strange and once we try to get back to normal again - if there will be any sort of normal,” she said.

“Hopefully we won’t become those people who get so caught up in it all they decide to sell and get as far away from it all as possible,” Mr Marjoram said.

“That thought has crossed my mind. Can I go back into the house? Will I be ok?” Mrs Marjoram said.

“I don’t want to sell my little house. I love my house.

“I’m thankful we still have our lives, but they just don’t realise the mess they leave behind.”

The couple has not slept in their own home since the incident.

Mrs Marjoram said the inconvenience of losing all her cards and her phone, which holds passwords, her work roster and countless precious photographs, has also been a difficult adjustment.

“It also makes me shaky again just thinking about how it happened and why I don’t have my cards and why I don’t have my phone,” she said.

The Marjorams said they were thankful for Kingaroy police, who not only arrived on scene within five minutes of the triple-0 call but are helping them access trauma counselling.

The couple gave their statement to Detective Sergeant Scott Prendergast, who himself was targeted by thieves at his family home on February 10.

“He loves this town and told us it makes him angry that this kind of thing keeps happening to people around him,” Mrs Marjoram said.

Investigations involving police from the Kingaroy CIB and Murgon Police are ongoing.

Anyone with relevant information or CCTV or dashcam footage can contact Kingaroy Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as South Burnett crime wave: Kingaroy couple robbed at knifepoint in own home