A home invasion in the capital city has left Belmopan residents shocked and shaken - but this invasion did not occur at just any residence. It happened at the home of 32-year-old Nan Cheng, a well-known, well-connected Asian businesswoman.
It was all captured on surveillance camera and Cheng's home was broken into by three intruders who attempted to kidnap a toddler inside. Courtney Menzies has the story.
Police presence was observed outside a house in the Orchid Garden Extension area of Belmopan last night at around 7:30. The home on Leigh Richardson Street is the residence of Asian businesswoman and tax collector, 32-year-old Nan Cheng.
In the shocking surveillance video, three men are seen scaling her fence and sneaking around her porch. And then the video captures them creeping stealthily - like trained operatives - making their way into her house like smooth criminals.
One of the residents seem to hear a disturbance, and goes to check which is when the three intruders appear in the frame. One of them grabbed him and restrained him. Another man goes for a child lying on the couch, as the third man slips into another room.
The burglar next to the child takes a machete and holds it menacingly above the young boy. And as he approaches the toddler, the infant reflexively holds up his hands, an infantile attempt at self defence - but, undeterred, the masked man scoops up the baby, and then commands the child to lie on the ground - the bewildered and terrified toddler still in hand. He gives the baby to the boy and then stoops down to speak to them. He is seen lifting the machete and pointing his finger at the children. A few feet away, the burglar holding the man then drags him away.
Cut to the next video where the burglars are seen running through the yard and jumping back over the fence.
Incredibly, one of them is holding the baby and drops him onto the ground just before scaling the fence. The baby then gets up, seemingly unharmed, and toddles back towards the house - and the masked men disappear into the night.
Cheng witnessed the events but slipped out of the house and dashed to the police station. She reported to police that she saw her father, Mark Fa Ling, and her 8-year-old son being threatened by the intruders. When police arrived on scene, they found Fa Ling and the child locked up inside a room. Fa Ling had been stabbed in his right hand, and also bore another wound to the head. The home was also ransacked but police have yet to ascertain what - if anything - was stolen.
