N/A businesswoman bound, beaten during home invasion

– bandits cart off cash, jewellery

A female bar owner was in the wee hours of Saturday morning bound and beaten by two armed masked men who invaded her New Amsterdam home. The incident occurred sometime between 01:30h and 03:30h.
Based on information received, the two bandits reportedly scaled the perimeter fence to gain entry into the woman’s yard, after which they used a crowbar to break one of the access doors.
The businesswoman, Barbara Singh, 63, of Smythfield, New Amsterdam, lives alone and operates a bar in the bottom flat of her two-storey house.
According to the Police, the bandits managed to escape with approximately $500,000 in cash, a quantity of gold jewellery and one Samsung A52 cell phone. Both men were reportedly masked, with one wearing a camouflage shirt and a hat.
According to Singh, she was awakened by noises and barking dogs and immediately attempted to get the security guard but he was reportedly asleep.

She eventually got him up and after making some checks around the property, he assured her that everything was fine.
“So, I go back in my bed and then I heard one hard noise and then I see two men come into the room; one with a big long gun and the other with a small gun. They start asking me where is the money and where is the gold. I start screaming for the neighbours to hear because the windows are normally open. Called on the watchman and said, ‘Watchie, thieves in here! Thieves in here, they are killing me’.”

According to the businesswoman, the bandits bound her hands and feet after which they ransacked the bedrooms while demanding cash and jewellery.
She stated that one of them jumped on her as she was trying to remove the tape they had used to bind her hands and feet.
“One of them put his knee and rest in on my stomach and started to hit me in my face,” Singh said as recalled the frightening ordeal.
“Anyway, they searched and searched and got what they found; it is a good amount but I can’t say. They took everything even my expensive watch and my cell phone – they took everything.”
After getting their hands on the loot, the men made their way into the bar where they started to drink beers. During this time, Singh managed to free herself and ran into the lower flat where the two men were seen escaping.
“I get to open my door and came out to the front door and come downstairs and peep and see them so I start to run back upstairs and they something knock and they get away,” Singh added.
The men reportedly jumped over a gate and made good their escape.
Back in September, bandits attempted to break into the building twice but were unsuccessful on both occasions. This publication understands that the property was recently sold and the new owners should be taking possession of the property later this month.
The Police are on the hunt for the bandits as investigations continue. (Andrew Carmichael)