Resident Alberto Revilla suffered the loss of his dog Loki during a fire at a Bronx housing complex that also claimed the life of a 6-year-old boy on Friday. However, he was also the victim of a robbery, after alleged thieves took advantage of the tragedy of the accident to break into the apartment and take some $ 14,000 of belongings from him and his wife.
The fire at the Mott Haven housing complex started shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, according to police. Firefighters went door to door to evacuate all the apartments. When they reached the third floor, they found the 6-year-old boy and his 32-year-old father unconscious in the hallway. The minor passed away and the father fights for his life at Harlem Hospital.
A short time later, Revilla said he saw two thieves go through his family’s belongings through a live broadcast on his phone.
“People like that, to be honest, are just despicable,” Revilla said. “It is not fair that we are going through a problem like this, and we are being victimized twice.”
The intruders took electronics, jewelry, including his wife Christine Rodríguez’s wedding ring, and other valuable items totaling $ 14,000, according to Revilla.
In addition to having to replace their belongings, Revilla and Rodríguez must also tell their daughter that their pet, a rescued dog, died during the fire.
“He is 4 years old and has been asking about him. I don’t know how to tell him,” Revilla said through tears. She had just adopted Loki almost exactly one year before the tragic fire and robbery.
Revilla said he reported the video to the New York City Police and it appears that his apartment was not the only one stolen that night.
“I realized that everything was missing,” said Shaara Wright, who lives on the 10th floor.
Wright noticed that his apartment was missing televisions, video games, and jewelry.
“I come home with nothing. It’s like working for nothing. My husband worked for nothing. I made a beautiful house for my children for nothing. I’m sad to have to start over,” she said.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. An investigation is ongoing.
Police said the victims, the father in the hospital and his son who died, are believed to have suffered smoke inhalation. No further injuries were reported.
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