Children escape kidnappers but village is shaken
The peace and tranquillity normally associated with village life has been shattered for one Belize District family as tonight one man is in police custody while as many as seven more are being sought for questioning in connection with an armed robbery and kidnapping that occurred over the weekend. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has the story.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This afternoon the Robateau family asked for privacy today as they recover from a traumatic incident that occurred early Saturday morning.
Around one-thirty that day, vegetable vendor Elic Robateau and his seven year old daughter left their home on the Old Corozalito Road in Santana Village by bus, enroute to the Queen Square Market. His wife, twenty-four Monica Mendez and their sons, aged eight and five stayed behind. But minutes after Robateau left, there was a knock at the front door. At first Mendez refused to open up but when the person on the other side threatened to shoot, she had no choice.
Janelle Chanona
“According to the young mother her attackers wanted money but even after they got the fourteen hundred dollars the couple had saved the men kidnapped two of her young children.”
Monica says she was tied to a post in the middle of the house but she managed to free herself and disappeared into the darkness. But while she was running for help, her children, bound by tape, were taken from the house by truck.
Erminda Reid, Chair, Corozalito Village
“Everybody knows that they work hard, they work hard. Every Tuesday morning he goes to Belize, either he or she, and they sell their stuff at the market and every Saturday morning. It’s a routine thing so it’s somebody that is watching and knowing.”
With the help of a neighbour, Monica eventually arrived at the home of Corozalito chairwoman, Erminda Reid.
Erminda Reid
“While we were there she kept on saying Ms. Minda I noh mind what they took from me; they took everything but it’s my children I’m worried about because I knew they had knife at them because I heard one of them asking “yu feel how sharp ih sharp?, yu feel how sharp ih sharp?” and one was answering “yes, sir, yes sir.” So she said I just hope…like she was sorry that she ran for help and leave the children. She was concerned…all the while she kept on saying I don’t mind, those are material things that they took but I am a fear for my children.”
But unbeknownst to the distraught women, the boys had escaped and were later found unharmed under a shed.
P.C. Eliazar Cob, Maskall Police
“Nobody was found in the area. We visited the scene. The house was all scattered about, everything was all dash up, a mess.”
But more disturbingly, everything of value had been stolen from the house. In addition to a television and DVD player, the thieves also took a generator and a water pump, essential items to the family’s survival as farmers.
Erminda Reid
“Well I guess everybody is scared now. All who are alone by themselves, because you know people sometime their husband go out of the village to work for the week and then come home weekend. Then they are alone there with their children so a lot of them are scared.”
Wayne Godoy, Village Resident
“I no think they deh round dis area yah. I think deh lef. Dah wah lee danger fi the village because you noh know if deh got plans fi come back or what?”
Alberto Villanueva, Vice Chair, Corozalito
“The entire village is shocked at it like we said and we will try our best to assist Mr. Elic, the family in recovering part of his things, if we could all. We wish that the police could get everything that he lose.”
“We all know that Christmas is coming and these people had their savings and everything that we wish that support would come for him through the village, through the village chairman. If anybody want, they could bring thing to the village chairman and we would be more than glad to assist Mr. Elic and his family.”
As the villagers call on the public to support to Robateau family, today Maskall police promised area residents a safe holiday season.
P.C. Eliazar Cob
“Christmas is coming, people want money but we have set up an extra patrol here within the villages along with the community and there helping towards me and I am giving my help towards them and everything is running smoothly up to now.”
While only three armed entered the Robateau home on Saturday morning, tonight police believe as many as eight men participated in the attack. Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona
The man in police custody tonight is the owner of the vehicle believed to have been used in the incident, a dark blue Ford Ranger. Cops are also investigating reports that some of Robateau’s relatives may have been involved in the crime. If you would like to assist the Robateau family please contact Erminda Reid at 205-5660 or Ruth Williams at 609-0507.
