Bandits rob woman, 69, threaten to set her alight
A 69-year-old pensioner of Angoy’s Avenue, Berbice, was terrorized and robbed by armed bandits who threatened to set her alight in the wee hours of Sunday morning.
Veronica Ballac recalling her half hour ordeal to this publication stated that around 3:00 am, she heard strange noises coming from the kitchen. She said that upon checking, she saw a man crawling into her home.
“When me see de fuss one crawl in, I start holler ‘thief thief’ and all of them run in so I start beg and seh me nah gone scream”.
The woman further stated that the men proceeded to bound her hands and feet and demand cash and gold jewelry.
“Them keep asking ‘way de gold and money deh’ and I telling them seh I don’t have none and because I seh that, one of them had a cutlass and he start lashing me all over with it. Then them start search up the whole house and every time them nah find something they firing lash”.
She mentioned that she had only $20,000 in her possession which she handed over to the bandits. She further added that after finishing their search, the men threatened to set her alight.
“When dem done, de one who had the gun seh ‘we gone throw gasoline on you and light you on fire’ and me start beg and seh no no please don’t hurt me and then them run out and go away”.
The victim’s house
Veronica Ballac stressed that the neighbors contacted the police who arrived about 3 hours later. The distraught pensioner who resides alone stressed that she is now scared for her safety and urged police to conduct a proper investigation.
According to a police source, no arrests have been made up to press time.
The attack was a grim reminder of last January’s murder of 49-year-old Anita Baichan, who was bound by bandits who then set her Plantation Hope, West Coast Berbice home alight with her still inside.
Police investigations led to charges being laid against three young men, aged between 18 and 24.