Inquiries are underway to find out how three masked bandits broke through tight security at Lyford Cay to rob wealthy Canadian fashion tycoon Peter Nygard at his multi-million dollar home.
The crooks, all reportedly dressed like security guards, gained entry to Nygard’s waterfornt residence in the early hours and forced him to open his safe.
Then they made off with an undisclosed amount of cash, which they stuffed into their pockets as they fled. the men scaled a fence and jumped into the sea leaving beind a knapsack.
The robbery has sent shock waves through the gated estate, home to billionaire businessman Joe Lewis, movie icon Sean Connery, and best selling novelist Arthur HAiley amongst others.
Resdients want to know how the crooks, all dressed in ski masks and one armed with what looked like a gun, managed to gain access to one of Lyford Cay’s most exclusive homes in the dead of the night and rob the flamboyant Mr. Nygard in his own sitting room.
The incident hapened after Mr. Nygard, who made his estimated $490 million fortune as one of Canada’s most successful fashion designers, had been having a small dinner party with eight guests, including a team from TV series Baywatch who had been filming on the premises.
The raid took place at about 3am. Even though Mr. Nygard employs five security staff the crooks apparently got through an unlocked gate, having arrived at Lyford Cay by boat.
When the men first entered his home, Mr. Nygard thought it was ajoke but they insisted he open his safe. The raiders back-tracked through the house “running wildly and looking for the way out” according to one source. they jumped a barbed wire fence on to a neighbour’s boat and mysteriously got away, probably by swimming.
Mr. Nygard later found boat paddles washed ashore on his beach and a knapsack filled with tools, including chisles and screwdrivers.
The neighbour’s boat was spattered with blood, suggested that at least one of the crooks was injured.
The Lyford Cay residents are very concerned over the breach in security. ” The big question is, did our security botch up? they seemed to have the robbers cornered but they still got away. The crooks were apparently not very professional , but they still escaped.
“It’s now high season at Lyford Cay and with its air of exclusivity, every effort is made to make people feel safe. They don’t want to cause alarm but some people are now worried.”
Source: The Tribune