Robbed on vacation in Jamaica

THE EDITOR, Sir: MY WIFE and I arrived in Jamaica on July 29 for vacation and were due to return to New York on August 17.

On August 2, we went to the Jamaica National Bank in Half-Way Tree and made a withdrawal from the account. We went to Brooklyn Supermarket nearby, where we bought groceries and then drove home.

When we reached our home at Lorraine Avenue, my wife got out of the car, opened the gate, and I drove in. After that, she locked the gate and walked about 60 feet and opened the grille to our house. I got out of the car to give her the code for the security system.

Suddenly, two motor bikes rode up to the gate. Two of the men were dressed in black, including helmet, which made it seem like they were from a security company. The third man wore a white shirt and dark pants. I thought they were from the security company.

One man asked me the name of the street and I told him. He then mumbled something. I told him to remove the covering from his mouth because I could not understand what he was saying.

Suddenly, two of them jumped the fence armed with knives, grabbed me by my neck and placed a knife at my neck. I was thrown to the ground. The second one grabbed my right foot and pressed his knife on my thigh, all the time cursing me and asking for the money.

My wife was on the veranda and she shouted, “Murder! Murder! Help! Help! Thief!” And then she shouted, “Are you going to kill my husband in front of my eyes? Why?” I told them to take the money. They rifled through my pocket and took the money I withdrew from the bank and also my wallet. While this was happening, the third one sat on his bike in the middle of the street.

The security alarm went off and members of the community ran to help us. But they were gone in seconds.

Our home has a security system. It is totally fenced with fencing of five to seven feet tall. Yet the thieves jumped it with ease. These were measures that we thought would protect us from criminals. But we were wrong. The distance of about 60 feet from the gate to the veranda makes us vulnerable. We are helpless against criminals.

The police and the security company eventually arrived, but the thieves were long gone. We were due to leave Jamaica on August 17; we left on August 3.

How did the criminals know that we had money? Did they get the information from anyone inside the bank or the supermarket when we were there? What responsibility does the bank or supermarket have for the safety of customers? These are questions for these entities and the police.

VANRIL BROWN