Petty thieves have been wreaking havoc in Kaneville over the last few months but in spite of increased vigilance among residents, one managed to break into a house in First Field yesterday and after terrorizing a woman and her daughter made off with cash and jewellery.
The burglar who gained entry into the home by removing a board on the southern wall before opening a kitchen window fled the scene on a bicycle and had not been arrested up to press time yesterday.
When Stabroek News visited the modest one-bedroom, single-flat house the woman who give her name only as Joyce out of concern for the safety of herself and family, was still visibly traumatized.
However she managed to recall that around 3 am yesterday she woke up to use the washroom and as customary she pulled her bedroom blind and looked into the living room area.
As she was about to return to bed, she said that she heard someone say “Weh ya going? Pass de money and the jewellery”.
Joyce recalled that though the bulb that was in the kitchen provided a little light she did not see anyone but moment later recognized a masked man with a “chopper” in his hand at the door.
“I get frighten because is me daughta and me alone” she added recalling that the man kept telling her to keep her head down.
During this time the woman was telling the bandit that she had nothing and the commotion awoke her daughter who was sleeping nearby.
The woman who had been a resident of that community for nine years said that her daughter handed over about $50, 000 cash and an undisclosed amount of gold jewellery.
The intruder them opened the backdoor and fled on a bicycle that was lying on the grass outside the gate.
Slightly trembling, she said that she raised an alarm but none of her neighbours came to her assistance.
That morning she made a report at the Grove Police Station but was told to come back later when the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) rank was there, to give a statement.
Up to when Stabroek News left the area around 1 pm, no policeman had arrived to conduct investigations and the occupants of the house were forced to use pieces of paper and cardboard to cover the hole.
Haven for criminals
Joyce told this newspaper that she is fed up of the crime situation in the community which is bordered by Samantha Point at the front and the Grove/Diamond Scheme to the north.
In the nine years, she has been residing there yesterday’s incident marked the third time that bandits had struck at her home.
“I am fed up of this man. I get robbed two times already. I feel to sell out and move because this area nah safe no more… I ain’t got nothing and they still come”, she stressed shaking her head. Joyce like several other residents this newspaper spoke with yesterday expressed fear over the escalating violence in their community and made calls for those in authority to act quickly to flush out the criminals.
One man said that he has been living in Kaneville for about six years and in recent times at least two petty crimes are being committed each day.
He said that there is an area called `wrong turn’ where the bandits lime and would sometimes rob persons as they pass. Following the murder of Brendon Charles on Saturday he said, police swooped down on the area and picked up several of them from there.
Two days after the incident, there was a break and enter in the community, he told this area.
The resident said that the majority of the crimes are committed in Third and Fourth Fields.
Kaneville is filled with many small shops and according to one shop owner, they have to be careful and due to the upsurge in crimes they are now forced to close their shops early.
The businesswoman has been residing in the area for at least 13 years. She recalled that recently thieves tried to break into her shop but had to leave empty-handed after her dog began barking.
She said that at night it is dangerous to walk in from the East Bank public road on foot. In certain parts of the community she said, one cannot leave their clothing on the lines.
Another concerned resident said that the bandits are so brazen that they are breaking into houses during the daytime. She said that some residents would leave to go out and when they return, their homes are ransacked and things missing. She like many of her fellow residents said that they ensure that they are secured in their homes at a decent hour at nights.
The woman said that she had been living in the area from its inception and in spite of the increase in crimes she has nowhere else to go.
She said that it is the youths who are committing these crimes.
Several residents said that unemployment is one of the biggest problems in their community. Yesterday they pleaded for the establishment of a community centre and playground which would encourage the youth to engage in meaningful activities.
Another resident pointed out that officials from the Human Services and Education Ministries need to visit the area, as many young children do not go to school.
