Woman Mugged Near Home in Downtown Belize City

Well-known Breastfeeding Counselor Penny Casasola was robbed on Friday night around seven-thirty, just outside her home on Rectory Lane. The elderly woman was attacked and robbed by a man on a bike. The robber managed to make off with Casasola’s purse and gold chain. She received bruises to her arm and scratches to her chest as a result of the attack. The following day, Casasola spotted the robber again in her neighborhood in the Southern Foreshore area. Today, Casasola recounted to News Five that she saw the robber approaching as she was about to enter her car. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to make it inside her vehicle in time.

Penny Casasola, Robbery Victim

“I noticed a man on a bicycle eating an ice-cream cone and he was going towards Regent Street. He circled back like he was going to Foreshore and I couldn’t get the door open when I realized that he was coming at me. Then he came and grabbed and throw me down and I fell on the bag, then I realized it was the bag he was after. By that time he had already taken off the chain and I wasn’t even aware and he was pulling and wrenching and I felt this burning and I said, “take it, take it, please just don’t harm.” H took it and got on his bike and went down Ferrell Lane.”

Andrea Polanco

“Is this someone you’ve seen before, perhaps hanging around, loitering, in the neighborhood?”

Penny Casasola

Penny Casasola

“Not that I know of, but his face is familiar. His face look like somebody you would know. He fits in in the community. He didn’t look like a stranger. He even said hello ma’am. He even hail me.”

Andrea Polanco

“Talk to us about the contents and the value of what you lost?”

Penny Casasola

“The value- I mean the value is on my peace of mind. That is the main thing because the first night I couldn’t sleep and kept playing in mind what I should have done better and how did this happen, that sort of thing, so it makes me a little paranoid to tell you the honest truth. Every man on a bike with khaki cap, I am taking a second look.”

Andrea Polanco

“What are some of the things you lost? You lost your documents?”

Penny Casasola

“I lost credit cards, driver’s license, voter’s registration, health card.”

Casasola reported the incident to police but so far no arrests have been made.