Crane family defends home from bandits, captures one

A family of Crane, West Coast Demerara courageously defended their home and captured a bandit who invaded it around 11:30 pm on Tuesday as an alleged accomplice(s) fled in fear.

Shoba Harnath, 39, told Stabroek News that they tied up the “small-built” man who had a black hood pulled over his face and handed him over to the police.

He entered the home through a window in the living room and was carrying a black backpack.

Harnath admitted that they dealt him some “slaps” while questioning him about what he was doing in the house.

She was pleased with the prompt response from the police. The man who appeared unarmed told the officers that he was 26-years-old. The family recognized him as a villager who would pass by their home at times.

Harnath recalled that she and her husband, Hamid Bacchus, 39, became aware of the invasion after they were awakened to a sound from their bedroom door.

The mother of seven said they saw a man with a black hood over his head and her husband shouted ‘aye, wah u doing deh?’

The intruder ran towards the kitchen without responding and when Bacchus grabbed him he pushed him down and continued a desperate bid to escape.

One of their daughters grabbed him and he pushed her down as well and tried to jump out of the window. She got up and held on to him again until her father came to her assistance.

Just then they saw someone pulling the curtain from the outside and realized that the man was not alone.

The woman feels that the bandits felt no one was at home because her eldest son, aged 22, had gone out with their car.

The young man received a call about what was taking place in his home and arrived shortly after. The neighbours also ran over after hearing the commotion.

She said her children, especially the youngest who is five-year-old are terrified and were trembling during the episode.

That was the second time that bandits entered the home and the family was happy that this time they did not suffer any losses.