Taxi operators in the capital city have been warned to be on the lookout for would-be carjackers, who have amped up attacks in recent weeks.
In an advisory issued Monday, the Guyana Police Force explained that all taxi drivers especially those operating Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio motor cars to “be on the alert for potential hijackers”.
Police disclosed that the attackers have been hiring the cars in Georgetown under the pretext of wanting transportation to areas such as North Ruimveldt, Georgetown; Atlantic Ville, East Coast Demerara; Providence, East Bank Demerara and West Demerara.
“Upon arrival at their requested locations, the drivers are robbed of their personal belongings as well as their motor cars,” the statement noted.
The suspected carjackers are said to be seven males. According to Police, one of the attackers has “dreadlocks”, two are of mixed descent, two were described as Afro-Guyanese and two others were said to be Indo-Guyanese.
On Saturday, Guyana Times was provided with detailed descriptions of three of the attackers. Bridgenandand Persaud, a Dowding Street, Kitty shop owner and Stabroek Market Square taxi operator, was beaten and robbed of his silver-grey HC 7851 Toyota Premio motor car by three armed attackers at Atlantic Ville, last Tuesday. Persaud had recalled that about 15:00h on Tuesday last, two men hired him at Stabroek Market and requested to be taken to Atlantic Ville. Moments after he entered the Atlantic Ville area and before the men could pay, they had each pulled a gun and wrestled with him. He stated that another accomplice was waiting at Atlantic Ville.
The taxi driver also said that he was beaten to his back and head. After the ordeal, Persaud lodged a complaint at Sparendaam Police Station, giving Police a description of his attackers and the weapons that they used.
The Guyana Police Force is appealing to the general public to provide any information they may have with regard to the identities of the individuals perpetrating the carjackers. Persons with information are asked to report to the nearest police station or call on telephone numbers 225-6411, 226-1389, 227-2128, 225-2227, 226-7065, 225-0575, and 911, to report any unusual activities they may have observed.
