Gordon Lyken’s home which is just above his funeral parlour at Norton Street was hit by bandits early yesterday morning as he slept.
He woke up around 5:45 am to find his living room area cleaned out save for a few items; the bandits carted off the large screen television set, stereo system, a laptop computer, some ornaments and a bottle of scotch that was tucked away in a corner of the room.
Lyken had no idea who would have robbed him but there were suspicions among his staff that it was persons who are familiar with the home.
The businessman, who said it was his first robbery and “hopefully the last”, told Stabroek News that he was particularly tired on Monday night and may have retired for the night without checking to see if the front door was secured. This was around midnight.
The door, which had a few visible fingerprints, faces east and is positioned so that persons can only gain access by climbing up about ten feet or jumping up on a side roof.
Lyken related that by looking at it from the outside it would be difficult to ascertain whether it might be locked or unlocked; adding that he found it strange people knew it was unlocked on that particular night.
“There were no signs of any forced entry which means that they got in through the front door. I would lock this door every night and the one night I forgot is when someone comes and robs me”, he said.
According to Lyken the slightest sounds usually wake him but on Monday night he slept through after hitting his pillow and heard nothing. He said the police were called in within minutes of him realizing what had happened. The businessman said that he lost no cash. He said the bandits have left him to re-furnish his living room and according to him the scotch was a gift for a friend.
When asked about security measures, Lyken related that he has a watchman at the parlour who was there that night but the man has since stated that he didn’t hear or see anything. Lyken said that he is not about to speculate as to what exactly the man might have seen if anything.
Yesterday the police visited the premises and spoke with a few employees. The home was also dusted for prints.
