Arsonist Targets Hotchandani’s Vehicles

A suspected arson attack early Sunday morning caused significant damage to three luxury vehicles belonging to the Hotchandani family on Princess Margaret Drive, with losses estimated at nearly half a million Belize dollars.

The incident occurred around 5:05 a.m., shortly after 75-year-old Bob Hotchandani parked his 2022 Cadillac Escalade, valued at $250,000, outside his residence at #132 Barrack Road.

Within minutes, three unidentified men reportedly arrived in a small boat, poured a flammable substance on the Escalade, a 2023 Audi Q7 worth $150,000, and a brown Chevy Silverado owned by 43-year-old Sunjay Hotchandani, valued at $85,000, before igniting the vehicles and fleeing toward Golden Bay.

The Belize Fire Service quickly contained the flames, preventing further damage to nearby structures. Investigators have since recovered a container with suspected accelerant raemains from the scene. While Bob’s Escalade is comprehensively insured, Sunjay’s Silverado only carries third-party coverage.