Robbers put elderly woman’s bar on fire

James Moreira

Up north, an elderly woman, sixty-four year old Petrona Leal, proprietor of Pasos Bar in Libertad Village, is tonight lucky to be alive following a brazen home invasion.  Leal, who was at home alone, was choked unconscious by one of three men who stormed into her house.  The assailants then ransacked her belongings and stole an assortment of gold jewelry before torching the property.  Fortunately, Leal regained consciousness in time to get out of the burning building.  When Corozal police were notified of the incident they responded immediately but were not able to nab the culprits.  News Five spoke with Assistant Superintendent James Moreira earlier today and he said that despite no arrests, an investigation into the matter remains ongoing.

ASP James Moreira, Deputy Officer Commanding, Corozal Police

“Shortly after eight p.m. last night Corozal police were alerted of a house fire at Libertad Village.  Police and the fire service responded to the area where they saw a two-storey building destroyed by the fire.  Initial investigation by police revealed that Petrona Leal, sixty-four years [old], a businesswoman of the said village was at home when she heard a knocking on her door.  A male person asked her to purchase some liquor, which would be rum.  She opened the door and in doing so he was accompanied by two other male persons.  One of them held her by the throat and choked her until she was unconscious.  She was later awakened by the heat of the fire.  She later got up and made her escape from the fire.”

Isani Cayetano

“Okay.  In terms of the police investigation in the aftermath of what took place, where are you guys so far?”

ASP James Moreira

“Well at this present moment we have a main suspect that we are looking for and the investigation continues.  But during the course of the entrance and when the lady got unconscious she was relieved of a thick gold chain with an anchor medal and seven gold rings.  What happened here is that we usually have a village patrol that is conducted by the Quick Response Team but it’s not at all times that they can be around so the people or the citizens have to take precaution of what is happening at this present moment.”

Concerns are being raised by residents in the north regarding the frequency of such incidents in the Corozal District.  On January twenty-fifth, a kidnapping was reported in Concepcion Village during which a group of armed men entered the home of Marleny Cawich and took her hostage.  While quick response from villagers led to her discovery no one has been arrested in that matter.