A robber accidentally pressed the panic button of the house he was robbing, Beeld newspaper reported on Monday.

But the security guard who responded to the call was overpowered and assaulted by the robber and his five accomplices.

The gang hijacked former Beeld rugby writer Hennie Brandt and his wife, Carien outside their house in Gauteng on Saturday, assaulting Brandt and one of his employees.

One of the robbers then tried to open the garage door, but pressed the panic button instead.

A guard employed by Alpha security responded but was overpowered and assaulted.

The gang made off with the two vehicles, television sets, radios and a computer.

Both cars were recovered by Matrix in Alexandra 30 minutes later.

The robbers are still at large.