An attempted robbery at a Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo home on Wednesday night has left the family traumatized and questioning the commitment of detectives to solving crimes.

During the ten-minute ordeal, the three persons who were home at the time huddled in a room and repeatedly called the Leonora police but got no response. The police finally arrived after a call was made to the Brickdam Police station, following which the Leonora police were notified.

Recounting the incident, Shameeza Seepersaud, who along with her two children were at home at the time said that after hearing the continuous barking of the dogs around 7.30 pm, her 18-year-old daughter went to investigate. The girl, who did not want her name to be revealed, said she went to the window and looked downstairs and saw as a man broke the light outside. She said it appeared as if at least three men were present. She declared that previously a sound similar to a gunshot was heard and the men pounded on the backdoor as if attempting to break it down. Not succeeding the men then broke the bathroom window and entered through it but the girl had already warned her mother and brother and they locked themselves in a room and began to scream loudly. She said she repeatedly dialed 911 but there was no response. In desperation, she called other family members and told them to call the police. Another sister, after not being connected to the Leonora police station called the Brickdam police who then notified the Leonora police.

Meanwhile, the men were busy ransacking the house, though they did not take anything.

Neighbours who had heard the screams also called the police and one neighbour then fired his licensed firearm into the air, following which the men ran through the front door, after being unable to open the back door.

The Quick Reaction Squad arrived shortly after and had to break down the door as the family was still too scared to come out of the room. Seepersaud praised the response of that squad but declared the subsequent actions of the detectives who later arrived left much to be desired. Shortly after the incident, the police held three wet and muddy men in the nearby village of De Kindren and took them into custody.

Stabroek News was told that the men could not be identified as the persons who had attempted to rob the home, however, up to yesterday morning they were still in police custody.

Seepersaud said even though fingerprints and footprints were left by the men, the police only took dusted a pane of glass and later told them that they weren't able to lift the print. Family members said the police could have acted more professionally, as after the men were caught they were placed in the same cell enabling them to communicate.

The head of the household, Colin Seepersaud said this was not the first time his home was targeted and only last week, a tape deck was stolen from a car owned by someone who was visiting them. A person was held but he escaped, Seepersaud said. He added that on another occasion his yard was entered and his bus windscreen stolen and though the matter was reported nothing ever came out of it. And in another incident a few weeks back his persons stole his ducks and other items from his yard.

He said the family was still fearful and very disappointed at the manner in which investigations were carried out. He said the police only carried out minimal investigations and "they need to do more".