Kelvin Tavaziva is attempting to rebuild his life after intruders broke into his home
thatssokelvii/TikTok
NEED TO KNOW
- A YouTuber was forced to flee his home after armed intruders broke in and allegedly threatened him if he went to the police
- Kelvin Tavaziva had thousands of dollars of recording equipment stolen, plus a laptop, a phone and his Hyundai
- “I’ve lost basically everything. I don’t have a house right now, literally. I’m just alive,” he said
A YouTuber was robbed by machete-wielding home intruders. He is now relying on the generosity of others to help him rebuild his life.
Kelvin Tavaziva was working on a new video when armed intruders broke into his Melbourne, Australia, home, last month, 9 News reported.
Recording equipment worth thousands of dollars, plus a laptop, a phone and his Hyundai were stolen, while Tavaziva, 28, his younger brother and two friends were held at knifepoint, according to the local outlet.
"Is this the end of me? Is this how my life ends?” the YouTuber told 9 News, recalling what he thought to himself during the robbery.
thatssokelvii/TikTok
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Tavaziva said the situation quickly unfolded after one person entered his bedroom with a knife on their hip. Another intruder soon followed, waving a machete, 9 News reported.
A total of up to five others searched his home for valuables, and the thieves allegedly warned that they would return to Tavaziva's home to hurt him if he reported the incident to police, according to the outlet.
Fearing for his life, Tavaziva went to stay at a friend’s house before he eventually went to the authorities. An investigation has since been launched to determine if he was specifically targeted for his expensive equipment, per 9 News.
"Hopefully they get the help they need or serve the time they need to be able to reflect," Tavaziva told the outlet of the intruders. "Overcome and heal from what's made them this way."
Over $7,000 has now been raised on a GoFundMe page that Tavaziva set up following the home invasion.
Despite remaining optimistic that his stolen items will be found, the YouTuber said the funds raised will go towards renting a new home and replacing his stolen equipment.
“I’ve lost basically everything. I don’t have a house right now, literally. I’m just alive,” said Tavaziva in a video later shared on his YouTube channel. “I’m seeing that there’s still a lot of love out there, a lot of people care for me, and things of that nature.
“You get to see that the real value is all within. The material stuff [is] cool and all, but it doesn’t … that’s not the valuable things,” he continued. “During that time, the one thing I was wishing was just that I hope I make it out alive."
“So the fact that we’re here right now is amazing,” Tavaziva added.
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