The next three stories are about home invasions - in three different part of the country: one on a coastal island, the other in an inland village, and third in a western municipality.
We start out west where the Contractor General, Omar Mitchell who holds one of the most senior constitutionally enshrined posts in the country was preyed upon in his home by armed bandits.
It happened early on Sunday morning at his estate home just outside San Ignacio. Jules Vasquez has the story:
On Sunday morning at 7:00, Omar Mitchell was at home here at his property just outside San Ignacio Town at mile two on the Benque Viejo Road - when he heard his dogs making a ruckus and he went outside to see what was provoking them. That's when he was ambushed.
ACP Joseph Myvette, Head - National Crimes Investigation
"He was alone at home, but eventually opened his back door and went out to investigate what the dogs were barking at. During that same time, he was approached by a male person who managed to struggle with him and put him on the ground where that person was joined by four other individuals. They then escorted him inside his home where he was bound and left in some room inside his home whilst his home was ransacked."
The next thing he heard was the sound of his two vehicles rolling off the property. This Blue Toyota Hilux is one of them. And the other is a blue Toyota Prado.
At 7:25 Am, they can be seen here, first the Hilux, then the Prado heading west on the Benque Road - towards the border:
ACP Joseph Myvette, Head - National Crimes Investigation
"We have been able to follow some information that later on in the morning of yesterday those vehicles may have been seen going across into Guatemala through Arenal."
The 69 year old Mitchell was injured with a cut above the eye and left traumatised. And it's not the first time it has happened - he was carjacked for the same vehicle in 2012, but police recovered it. Now that it's happening again, just a coincidence?:
ACP Joseph Myvette
"We are following several leads. However, we are not been able to connect that as yet as the investigation is in its early stage."
The brazen home invasion has shaken and scared the San Ignacio community. The Commissioner says it's a reality of the times:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The fact that we are seeing that more and more people are becoming unemployed due to the pandemic, it surely is a recipe for crime to increase particularly property crimes."
Hon Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs and New Growth Industries
"Very very distressing I'm certain for the contractor general and so we definitely empathize with him and we're doing our very best on the ground to crack down on these home invasions."
Mitchell's injuries were not life threatening and he was treated at a private facility. He has been Contractor General for just over a year.
