ARMED bandits on Tuesday night broke into the home of popular seamstress and fashion designer, Wendy Griffith of Lamaha Park, East La Penitence and held her and her daughter-in-law at gunpoint before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash, jewellery and household items.

The traumatised seamstress recalled that it was just before 22:00 hrs and her son Andy who lives with his wife and two children in the back building in the yard had just left to go to the shop.
Soon after he left, Griffith recalled, unknown to her the men first pounced on her daughter-in-law and raided her home. They placed the gun behind her head, made her walk ahead of them and ordered her to knock on Griffith’s home so she would open up.
Griffith recalled that on hearing her daughter-in-law calling on her to open up, she was hesitant as it was unusual for her to come over at that hour. However, she opened up.
“When I opened up the door, there was the gun in my face.” She almost fainted, she related. One of the men remained outside while the armed one chucked the daughter-in-law inside and began demanding cash and gold from both women.
From all appearances, the man armed with the weapon had been observing Griffith’s movements earlier in the day, because when he demanded money and she said she did not have any, he blurted out: “You went shopping and come home with a big, big bag dis afternoon and now saying you aint gat money?”
As the men became agitated and continued their demands, the women grew fearful for their lives and eventually handed over their cash and jewellery.
Then one of the men in a barefaced bid looked around and on seeing a television set in the living room demanded that they detach it and hand it over.
Throughout the ordeal, Ms. Griffith was in a frenzy for fear that her son would return home and a confrontation would ensue. However, as fate would have it, the men exited before Andy returned home.
Meanwhile, as they left the yard they discharged rounds and escaped into the night, leaving the two homes in turmoil.
The East La Penitence Police were alerted and responded in good time. Although the men escaped, Griffith said she was very satisfied with the response from the police.
Meanwhile, residents of Lamaha Park are calling for the reintroduction of the Community Policing Group, noting that it serves as a deterrent to nighttime criminal activities.

(By Shirley Thomas)