Business persons were twice recently arrested and charged for shooting armed robbers who had attacked them. In Linden, a while ago, some residents beat a notorious bandit to death, and were charged for this act because it is alleged that they had used undue force in subduing the felon.
Several reports in the media have told stories of owners of licensed firearms shooting escaping robbers, and the bleeding hearts of the society have cried out for the blood of the firearm owners.
But where does one draw the line? In the seconds it takes to decide whether to attempt to foil a robbery or save a victim, or to allow perpetrators to escape with their booty after committing robberies and other crimes, there is scant scope for analysing the consequences of one’s actions, especially if the felons are armed.
Oftentimes, when someone has taken the meritorious action to save a victim from a criminal act, that person becomes the target of public outcry.
A few years ago, a thief chopped a schoolboy and stole his money and possessions. The police intercepted him, and he was shot in the process. He subsequently died, but not before being identified as one of the perpetrators of another robbery. Thereafter, his mother and others began demanding justice for this individual.
So what about justice for the schoolboy and the other victims whom her son had robbed? Most likely she has enjoyed the spoils from the robberies he had committed. Did she ever stop to think of the victims?
Some of those who demand justice for bandits cornered and killed by the Police during armed confrontations are themselves victims of armed robbery. A number of innocent Guyanese have lost their lives at the hands of members of notorious criminal gangs. These criminals are like chickens coming home to roost, because thieves have no loyalty to “kith and kin”. They steal from anyone they consider easy prey.
Law-abiding Guyanese have to display courage to fight these criminals by whatever means possible, even if it is by providing information to law-enforcement officers so that criminal elements could be eradicated from society. However, the fear of police complicity in criminal activities is real, hence there has been spawned a distrust that prevents many from coming forward with information about criminal activities.
Instances are rife in downtown areas, especially in the vicinity of Bourda and Stabroek markets, where petty thieves who are well known to vendors and market constables lurk, and pounce on unsuspecting victims, snatching a cellphone, a chain, or other small properties of victims.
They escape and change the location of their activities. A day’s haul may net them a sizeable income, more than many law-abiding employees may earn in a month of earnest and honest labour.
These predators get away with their activities with impunity, because making a police report is often perceived as a time-wasting and unfruitful exercise by most victims. Many petty thieves, encouraged by their successful forays, have over time graduate to armed robbery, and then to becoming gang-members. It is not long before they begin to kidnap and murder, or invade homes and murder; and this cycle is a continuing trend currently escalating beyond manageable proportions in our society.
Several years ago, late Police Commissioner Henry Greene presented one Victor Wilson with a commendation and award for brave conduct in the face of danger during an armed robbery.
Wilson’s courage was instrumental in the capture of a bandit who had already robbed the business entity to which he was affiliated; and yes, we need such citizens with his daring and, even more, determination to confront the enemies of society. If communities band together to support their neighbours who are attacked, even under fire, the scourge of crime would eventually be eradicated.
This, however, has to go hand-in-hand with a responsible judicial system. Many decent police ranks are disheartened when they lay their lives on the line to capture a criminal, only to see that criminal walk away from court with a slap on the wrist or on minimal bail. But bandits have no loyalty, and until the requisite punishment is meted out, there will be many more attacks on just about anyone, such as that committed on a Magistrate and his wife.
Those witnessing crimes can provide information, even if they cannot physically restrain the perpetrators or publicly accuse or confront criminals. Whatever the constraint, whether it is fear or any other factor, we are all ultimately responsible for the type of society in which we live, and each of us can make a difference to the crime ratio.
