70 year old assaulted and robbed
As crimes go it was neither the most violent nor costly…but the deliberate assault on a female senior citizen still hurts like a punch to society’s gut. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods has the story.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Seventy-year-old Idorine Hyde was home watching television around three on Monday evening when she was called outside by a young man. Hyde says she recognized the person as someone she had seen earlier with one of her nephews, but what happened next caught her completely by surprise.
Idorine Hyde, Assault Victim
?And quarter after three the boy was here telling me to give him some money because my cousin owes him out there. I said to I agree but let?s get him or bring the police and as soon as I said that he jumped on me, beat me up and robbed my gold bangles and my money?
Hyde, who was punched in the cheek, is still unable to speak clearly. Hyde says the blow to her lower jaw caused a cut inside her mouth. She was treated for her injuries, but it will take sometime for the bruise and swelling to heal. Hyde says she is also emotionally upset because she strongly suspects it was a relative that instigated the assault and robbery.
Idorine Hyde
?Especially my family. Okay I want to say if I hit the street and I have this gold on me, someone would jump on me a rob me, but not in my own house; sitting down in my own house and watching my TV. So I believe I have the right to do something about it.?
Hyde reported the incident to the police. Authorities say they have been looking for two suspects but have yet to make any arrests.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
?We are looking for somebody. We believe we know who is responsible, that person has not yet been taken into custody. We would like to take this opportunity to advise folks out there to be extremely careful in particular with the Christmas holiday approaching. We know that this is when we tend to see crime rise and that people out there are desperately looking for some money for the holidays.?
As a result of the incident, Hyde says she plans to return to the United States where she was residing before she decided to come home for what she thought would be a quiet retirement.
Idorine Hyde
?When I was coming up as a little girl, this never happened. Even when I turned a young lady and married this never happened. But now this is a very serious crime here in Belize and I would like to see it stop.?
Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
