Montreal Gazette

Home invasion caught on security video

‘They were yelling at me in French, “Where’s the cash!” ’

- KATHRYN GREENAWAY kgreenaway@postmedia.com

It was traumatic, but I feel confident we’re going to find these guys. I’m lucky to be alive. And I am lucky to be so wellsuppor­ted by the community.

On the verge of losing consciousn­ess, with a man’s hand squeezing the breath out of her, Natalie Poirier fought for her life. Poirier was sound asleep in her bungalow on Pine Street in Hudson, when she was shocked awake by three loud bangs. It was 2:09 a.m., Sunday. “I thought it was thunder,” Poirier said during an interview, Monday. “My dog (Riley) is beyond terrified of thunder. I thought he might be banging against the door trying to get away.” Poirier called out to Riley as she exited her bedroom at the back of the house. She came face to face with two men, who had kicked in the front door. She was tackled to the floor. One man choked her while the other ransacked the house, tearing doors off closets and ripping drawers out and tossing them on the floor. “They were yelling at me in French, ‘Where’s the cash! Give us the cash!’ ” Poirier said. They kicked Riley twice to keep the dog at bay and the man straddling Poirier squeezed her throat so hard, she was on the verge of passing out. But she refused to let them win. “I used my elbows, my teeth, everything I could,” she said. “I bit both of them on their hands and wrists. I wanted to leave a mark. I was fighting for my life.” Poirier, 41, played rugby for 11 years. He father was a hockey player and her mother a fitness instructor. “I’ve got good genes,” she said. “They messed with the wrong person.” Poirier has a security camera. It captured two men casing the house a couple of weeks ago. She is convinced it is the same two men. She is also of the mind that they received bad informatio­n and hit the house thinking there was a wad of cash to be had or a safe to be emptied. “I told them to take the money I had — $40 in my wallet,” Poirier said. “But they kept yelling at me to get them the money.” Poirier is married, but her husband was away that night. The front light was on, the doors were locked and there were two cars in the driveway. “They didn’t even go around to the side door where it was dark,” she said. “They kicked in the front door right under the light. I really think they thought nobody was home.” Security camera footage shows the two men entering the house. You also hear Poirier screaming. Poirier was able to convince the intruders to let her stand up and go get her wallet. The second she was up on her feet, she dashed for the side door and escaped. She ran down the street screaming. Poirier estimates the invasion lasted around four minutes. “An angel (neighbour) driving a van up the street saw me and stopped to help,” Poirier said. “The woman had only moved in two days ago and was still unloading and unpacking boxes. She moved to Hudson because it was safe.” Poirier was born and raised in Hudson and has never felt unsafe. The Sûreté du Québec showed up within 10 minutes. A crime investigat­ion unit was called in to dust for prints and collect clues. The major crime unit of the SQ has taken over the investigat­ion. “People have nightmares about being frozen and not able to scream, or wanting to run, but not being able to move,” Poirier said. “I now know that I’m a fighter. I don’t freeze.” Poirier is still recovering from the emotional shock but said she is surrounded by friends and family. “It was traumatic, but I feel confident we’re going to find these guys,” she said. “I’m lucky to be alive. And I am lucky to be so wellsuppor­ted by the community.” Poirier’s advice to people is to keep their doors locked, the exterior of the house well lit and to install a security camera.

 ??  ?? While Natalie Poirier was asleep early Sunday morning, two men kicked in the front door of her Hudson home and assaulted her, demanding she give them her money. Poirier, 41, was able to fight back and escape.
While Natalie Poirier was asleep early Sunday morning, two men kicked in the front door of her Hudson home and assaulted her, demanding she give them her money. Poirier, 41, was able to fight back and escape.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada