Another Home Invasion Robbery - This Time in Chiriquí

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - I just received word today of another home invasion robbery of an American expat living in Chiriquí. The assault and robbery actually occurred about three weeks ago but the victim is basically a private person and did not want the details of his experience known to the general public. Now, three weeks after the original assault the victim was returned to the hospital where he had to undergo emergency surgery to relieve swelling in the brain, resulting from the trauma of the beating he took during the robbery. The details of this assault were given to me as follows, and I'm going to edit out the identifying information to protect the privacy and identity of the victim. And as usual, I'm publishing this so that the rest of the members of the community can know what's going on, and to encourage you all to take increased safety and security measures at home. (more)

Received Via Email:

• Hello Don;
  
  
• With your recent focus on home break-ins, this particular incident should have been reported to you about three weeks ago when it happened, however the "victim" encouraged me not to say anything for fear of reprisals and also because he is by nature a shy person.
  
  
• However, a new development yesterday makes it urgent to share with you, so that you can do whatever investigative reporting is needed and share it with others for future prevention.
  
  
• His name is (snip), who is about 70 years old. He lives in an isolated but otherwise well secured home in Buena Vista, about 15 minutes up the Volcan Road from the Pan American Highway in western Chiriquí.
  
  
• About three weeks ago, he was awakened by knocking at 1:30 a.m. Because his three dogs were not barking or causing any ruckus, he opened the door (thinking it must be one of his regular employees with a problem) and was immediately jumped by two masked men with machetes and rope.
  
  
• He was tied up, tortured with machete cuts to provide information about his safe (which he tried to give but they did not understand the left and right directions either in Spanish or English), kicked and beaten, especially about the head, and left tied up and bleeding on the floor after the invaders stole all his electronic equipment including a plasma TV and brand-new state-of-the-art computer, about $500 cash and credit cards etc.
  
  
• Another employee arrived for work at 7 a.m. and called an ambulance for (the victim) who was taken to Chiriquí Hospital where he remained for over one day before being released.
  
  
• That employee told him that another employee ("Luis") also came to work that day but was very tired and spaced out. (The victim) reasoned that Luis had to be one of the invaders because he was friendly with the dogs, he knew about the safe and the new computer, and he had just been given his notice because the work he had been doing was essentially complete.
  
  
• (The victim) reported all this to the National Police. They arrested Luis and found blood stains on his shoes which supposedly matched (the victim's) blood. But they released him after a day or two (no reason given) and supposedly never figured out who the second invader was.
  
  
• The new development came after (the victim) had been complaining of increasing migraine headaches over the past two weeks. Yesterday, while backing out his car, he suffered what appeared to be a stroke.
  
  
• Fortunately, neighbors were with him and called the ambulance which once again transported him to Chiriquí Hospital where examination showed that he had trauma bleeding and swelling on the brain.
  
  
• Immediate and urgent surgery was prescribed, and (the victim) was ready for that last night.
  
  
• However, (the victim's) health insurance only covered him at Panama City hospitals, and Chiriquí Hospital would proceed only with a credit card number.
  
  
• The problem was that his credit cards had been stolen, and he could not remember numbers or details. So he was transported to the Social Security hospital in David, where (fortunately) the neurosurgeon (name unknown) agreed to do the surgery.
  
  
• And just now (Saturday afternoon), we have gotten word that the surgery was successful to relieve the trauma, but of course the future still lies ahead.
  
  
• Thus, I forward all this to you because of the many levels of experience and learning from such an incident, ranging from home security, "vetting" of employees, competence of local police, and health insurance. I have no idea where the police response to all this stands, and you as an investigative reporter, would most likely be able to find out.
  
  
• If I can be of any further assistance or provide more details if and when I learn them, please let me know.
  
  
• By the way, I am a retired gringo living near Boquete, and we met (the victim) when we were considering the purchase of a portion of his land (which totals 12 acres, I believe).
  
  
• Best regards, Robert Durand

Thank You: Thank you very much for passing this on. Please pass my best wishes for a speedy recovery to the victim in this case. And you are absolutely right - there is a lot of valuable "lesson learned" information in his case. The things that jump right out at me are:

• Health Insurance: If your health insurance won't cover you where you are, what good is it? Can someone please explain this one to me? I guess the logic and thinking was that "if anything happens then I'll go to Panama City." Which sounds fine until the chest pains start and you need surgery right now and there is no time for transport. So, pick your insurance coverage carefully.
  
  
• Thank You, Social Security: Say all you want about how screwed up the Panamanian Social Security health care system is, but they saved this man's life when it mattered. A lot of people don't know this, but the Santo Tomas hospital in Panama City, for example, will take all comers, health insurance or not. If you are a tourist with no health insurance in Panama City and something bad happens to you then you will most likely end up there. The Social Security hospital is supposed to be "one step up" from the Santo Tomas hospital and reserved for those who are working Panamanians who are contributing to the system.
  
  
• Emergency Medical Care: This guy could have literally died from a brain trauma, hemorrhage, and swelling which occurred as a result of this attack. If that had happened (and, Thank God it did not) then the home invasion robbery turns into a murder case. I would love to get my hands on the SOB who thinks it's a great idea to kick a 70 year-old man in the head repeatedly for a few bucks. Really. My pleasure. I'll take this one myself.
  
  
• Bad Plan: Listen up, folks. Do not open the door for any reason unless you know what's on the other side!!! Again, this guy "thought" his way into a nearly fatal ass-whupping. He assumed it would be alright to open the door because the dogs were not barking. What? Step #1 in most of these robberies is to poison the dogs -- so if it's 1:30 am and someone is knocking on the door and the dogs are not barking, then I'm going to assume they are already dead. And doing anything, even just going back to bed, would have been better than opening the door. Your physical security barriers don't work very well when you defeat them yourself.
  
  
• Inside Job? Most of them are in one way or another. I don't know what this "Luis" dude knows, but the prosecutor didn't have enough evidence to charge him so they had to let him go after 24 hours (that's the law.) He had the victim's blood on his shoes, and he was also in the house after the attack so he could have just walked through it. He was about to be let go, but people get fired all the time and they don't go assault their former employees. So maybe this guy qualifies as the primary suspect, he's also innocent until proven guilty. What does the footage from the array of security cameras show? (You get the point.)
  
  
• Know Your Employees: If you go out of the way to learn every possible detail about the people who you let into your inner security circle, and especially employees, you are sending them a message - I know who you are and if anything happens then I'll be coming after you. Get copies of cedulas or passports, and keep them somewhere off location (in a file in a friends house or whatever). Take photos. If there is a lot of money at stake then go overboard and hire a private investigator (such as my good friend Brett) to do a complete background check. Exactly who is that girl who takes your baby to the park for a walk every day?

You Are Being Targeted: Again, they went after this guy because they thought they could get away with is. So far, they were right.

The Cops Are Worthless: Don't expect to be protected by the Panamanian National Police. They are basically a "clean-up" force - they show up after the crime has occurred but they really don't prevent all that much unless its by dumb luck. Be your own best lifeguard.

Hard Nut: If you live in a remote area, then you have more to do in order to ensure the physical security of your home. If you have several dogs, keep one or all of them inside of the house at night. Install an alarm system. Upgrade physical security in fences, bars on windows, upgraded doors (don't forget the frames), lighting, alarm systems, the works. Don't forget a fall-back safe room with a very solid door and telephone access.

Keep It Coming: Guys, please don't be afraid to share your stories with the rest of us. Everyone can learn from the mistakes of others. And remember, no victim is responsible for the crimes committed against them - the assailants are. We all can however take measures to protect ourselves and to make it harder or less likely that we will be attacked or assaulted. So, we all as individuals have a degree of responsibility for our own self protection. So, don't be embarrassed -- I'll protect your identity and you will be helping the community by allowing me to repeat your story.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.