A St George’s Hill councillor said he was confident security would be tightened on the luxurious estate after a horrific burglary which saw a 73-year-old widow tied up and tortured.


Councillor Peter Harman described the raiders’ attack against Francois Jansen on Friday, August 3, as “horrendous”.


Mrs Jansen was waterboarded, had boiling water poured down her back and was stripped by two masked men in her St George’s Hill home in a terrifying ordeal that lasted several hours.


Coun Harman said: “I haven’t heard of anything as vicious and violent as this happening there.


“The trouble is burglars know there’s money up there and they will try and get in however they can.


“I know security at the moment is very good, but I’m sure it will be beefed up and strengthened even more.


“It’s difficult to know what to do, apart from making your home into a fortress, which nobody wants to do.”


Surrey Police arrested a 31-year-old man from Brookwood in connection with the burglary on Tuesday, August 7.


He was released on bail until September 20 while the investigation continued.
Witnesses should call police on 101, quoting reference EL/12/5053, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.