TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: When 77-year-old UK woman, Patricia Hughes woke up at 6.30 am on Sunday with a terrible headache, little did she realise that her apartment was burgled by unknown persons.
But, realisation soon dawned on the native of Swansea, who was presented with an MBE by Prince Charles in 2005 for services to tourism, that miscreants have looted her of jewellery worth 25,000 pounds, besides currency 1600 pounds.
Patricia is not new to Goa and Cavelossim. She had first landed in Goa around 20 years ago and returns every year since then. She has been staying in the apartment for around six months for the last five years. “I went to bed at around 00.30 am on Sunday and got up at around 6.30 am when I found the mosquito mesh of the bedroom window cut open,” she recalled. Her worst fears came true when the currency and the valuable jewellery went missing from the safe.
“After effecting entry inside, the miscreants stole the keys from my bedside table and lifted away the valuable and currency,” she said. “I am very fortunate that I was not injured. The miscreants must have used some chemical to ensure that I did not get up,” she added.
Patricia, who lodged a complaint with the Colva police want the men-in-uniform to act swiftly to bring the culprits to book. “Time is very important in cases like this. The police should act fast and round up the suspects,” she said.
A 12-member police team led by PSI Tari had descended at her apartment soon after the incident with a sniffer dog and finger print expert. “PSI Tari was very helpful. They have recorded my statement. But, the police should bring the culprit to book as quickly as possible,” Patricia said.
The incident, she said, shook her, but she has no plans to cut short her stay in the State saying the people of Goa are indeed lovely and friendly.
She had landed in the State on November 3 and had planned to stay in Cavelossim for the next four months, but she wants the local authorities to bring the culprits to book. She said the incident is being pursued at the highest level back home in UK and the foreign office is in touch with the authorities in India.
When Herald contacted Margao sub-division police officer, DySP Mohan Naik, he said the police have not yet achieved a breakthrough in the case. “The police are investigating the case,” was how DySP Naik reacted when asked to shed light on the status of investigation.
