A 67-year-old Zimbali resident suffered two heart attacks after he tried to chase criminals who broke into his son’s house in Zimbali Coastal Resort.
The incident has raised concerns among residents of the exclusive estate that the criminals had entered the estate by renting accommodation there.
Antony Dixon and his family returned from lunch on Sunday, December 2, to find thieves in his house in Yellowwood Drive.
“As we drove in, there was a white car parked on our driveway and the door was open. Immediately we knew that our house had been broken into because we always lock our door,” said Antony.
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He said his father, Stephen, parked behind him and went to the side of the house, where he saw that there was someone in the house. Antony’s wife, Fiona shouted, ‘Stop, what are you doing.’
“One of the men lifted up his shirt and showed a gun and said ‘do not come closer, I will shoot’. They got into the car and drove off.
“At that time we were all in a panic because of the children who were with us. As they drove off, my father tried to run after them, that was when he suffered a heart attack.”
Stephen was rushed to the hospital where it was found that he had in fact suffered two heart attacks.
After an operation, he was discharged from hospital last Monday and is recovering at his home in Port Zimbali.
There have reportedly been several incidents in the past of criminals renting accommodation in the estate in order to burgle houses.
At a residents’ meeting last week, some voiced concerns about the quality of estate security, as well as the issue of short-term rentals.
An online petition is calling for rentals to be no shorter than two weeks, alternatively one month.
Zimbali general manager Sarika Sewpersad declined to comment.
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