Griffith's 80-year-old neighbour robbed

Police Commissioner Gary Griffith took time off from celebrating Christmas with loved ones on Tuesday to visit the scene of a home invasion at his neighbour’s house.

Odette Aboud, 80, and her friend, Claudette Ramsingh, were tied up by three men, one armed with a gun, at Aboud’s home in Haleland Park, Maraval. Both victims remained traumatised following the incident.

According to reports, around 8.15 am, Aboud and her friend were alone when three men entered through an open door on the western side of the house. They overpowered Aboud, tied her up and used electrical cord to tie Ramsingh.

The women were taken to a bedroom as one of the men stood guard over them. The other bandits robbed Aboud of US$2,500 and a cellphone while Ramsingh was also robbed of a cellphone. The bandits then ransacked the house and stole a quantity of other valuables. Police believe they had a getaway car and gained access to the house by climbing over a wall.

When the bandits fled the scene, the two women managed to alert relatives and Griffith was informed of the incident.

Relatives did not make anything of it when they could not reach Aboud during the morning, unaware she was being robbed at the time.

They have expressed concern over the attack on the women.

Griffith and officers of the Maraval station later took charge of the crime scene and CCTV footage of the robbery has been passed on to officers of the Cyber Crime Unit.

The house was also checked for fingerprints and arrests are imminent.