Woman, son terrorised by 7 bandits in Valsayn home invasion

Senior Reporter

anna-lisa.paul@guardian.co.tt

The home of a medical professional in Valsayn North, Trinidad, was invaded by seven bandits on Monday afternoon. The owner, her son and a female employee endured an hour of terror and suffering after the phone lines were cut, and they were tied up and robbed of cash, jewellery, alcohol and other valuables.

Some residents, who said a gang was operating in the area, are now rushing to strengthen security measures at their homes after the community was rocked by the incident.

Police said at 1.45 pm, the homeowner and her family lost thousands of dollars worth of items from their heavily fortified home.

Allowing Guardian Media into her home on the condition that neither her name nor address were published, the traumatised homeowner and businesswoman recalled coming face-to-face with an armed, masked man in her bedroom. The still traumatised woman appeared brave as she clasped her hands and slowly recounted the events.

She described the first bandit as having “shifty eyes.” He said to her, “Moms, this is a hold-up. I have come for your jewels and your money.’”

Admitting she was disoriented as she had been on the verge of falling asleep and wondered if she was dreaming, the victim added, “It was reality because he said to me, ‘Get off the bed and show me where the money is’.”

She said she had some cash at home which was to be used to pay workers.

“I showed it to him, which he took. He went through all my cabinet drawers, and when he didn’t find anything more, he said, ‘Now, I want the jewellery’.”

Pointing him to where she kept the valuables, she said he emptied boxes and drawers, leaving items scattered and clothing strewn on the floor and bed. Revealing she was distressed as her personal sanctuary had been invaded by the suspects, the businesswoman said after the bandit was done in her room, she was taken to her son’s bedroom, where she found him bound and gagged.

In his presence, she was asked, “Where is your safe?”

Pointing to where it was, she told the bandit it had been years since it had been used and that the corroded batteries were a testament to this.

After indicating she could not open it, the armed man looked at the woman and threatened, “Do you want me to cut your fingers off?”

The woman said although she was scared for her life, she looked him straight in the eye and said, “Maybe one day you may want me to help you, and it might be too late.”

Although he recoiled somewhat at her reply, she said it did not deter the bandit from searching for more jewellery.

While they were being manhandled by three masked men, at least four others were in the house searching the library, living room, and kitchen, from where they removed a quantity of alcohol.

The bandit and his colleagues then chucked the woman and her female worker in one bedroom. The men then dragged her son to the main bedroom, which she said was “the most terrifying point” because she did not know what they were doing to her son.

“They said, ‘If you not going to do it, we will have to kidnap him,’ and I begged, please don’t do that.”

Praying the bandits did not physically harm them, the women eventually decided to lock themselves in the bedroom.

The incident follows the robbery and murder of English actress Viscella Richards in the area back in March. Richards, 79, who lived alone at Valsayn North, was robbed and killed during a home invasion. No one has as yet been arrested in connection with that incident.

Guardian Media understands that at least two Cabinet ministers reside in the area, and senior police officials have assured that following Monday’s incident, they will be increasing mobile patrols.

An officer revealed, “We will be partnering with SWAT to offer comfort patrols to the residents. They can rest assured that we will be patrolling 24/7.”

Realising the men had left as the house became quiet, the two women crept out, untied her son, and ran to the neighbour’s house after they realised the phone lines had been disabled and their cellphones were missing.

The neighbour and her workers came over immediately to help. They contacted the police and also alerted the neighbourhood SWAT patrol, who arrived within minutes.

The house, which has a remote-controlled gate, is outfitted with an alarm, CCTV cameras and has a six-foot-high wall topped with an electric fence.

Despite these measures, the armed men were able to breach the property via an adjacent yard.

Yesterday, the victim was busy getting locks changed, as the bandits left with the house keys.

Alarmed after one of the masked men told her during the ordeal that they had already killed a woman in Valsayn, the businesswoman said it had evoked a feeling of fear and resignation in her.

“I say this was the last for me,” she added.

“I prayed to the Lord and said you know I have done good in my lifetime, and if I have to go now, so be it.”

Asked what items of sentimental value had been taken, she said gold bracelet and gold coin which had been part of a chain her mother had divided among her and her sisters.

This, she claimed, was secured from the sweat of her mother’s work in the cane fields and was the last physical item she had left to remember her by.

She lamented the decision by the young men to invade her home as she reflected, “They could do so many different things with their lives. Why do something like this? It is so traumatic.”

Baring her soul as a victim and mother to the public, including the bandits, she said, “You have hurt me in a way that bruises will show, but you cannot feel the pain I feel inside because I saw my son being dragged in my home, and I can’t even do anything.”

Fighting back tears, she said, “They don’t know how much hurt I am feeling now. They seemed very well groomed in their trade in that everything they touched, they took their garment and wiped it.”

The woman, who said she had gone to work yesterday to get out of the ransacked house, added that the crime situation was out of control.

The woman said she felt she had implemented everything she could to secure her family, but the bandits gained entry as a result of “one little weak point in my set-up.”

The property at Valsayn North is bordered by the St Joseph Farm.

The traumatised woman thanked her neighbours for their love and support.

Having lived in the area for over 40 years, she said it has always been a safe and secure neighbourhood, and despite what has happened, she does not intend to run.

To the suspects who robbed her of the sense of security and peace one normally feels in their home, the victim said, “I pray for them too, that maybe they could get another way of life. They are healthy, young men.

“I wish you the best of everything, but the best of everything is not what you are doing. That best of everything, hurting people, is not the right way to go. You have a whole life ahead of you. Make something useful of that life.

“Make your family proud. Make them happy that you have turned your way into one that would make you a better human being. You are young; you can do anything you set your mind to, but don’t do this one. Let this crime stop. Let us have our country the way we used to have it.”

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