Two men have been arrested in connection with a number of armed robberies in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) after their identities were positively identified by reviewing CCTV footage and descriptions given to the police by witnesses.
However, a third man was also taken into Police custody for at least one robbery committed earlier this month. He is expected to be placed on an Identification Parade to determine whether he would have committed other robberies.
Police Commander of Region Three, Assistant Police Commissioner Simon McBean explained that the three men were arrested between Sunday and Tuesday morning.
He noted that two of the suspects were apprehended at the same address and a weapon that was used in one of the robberies less than two weeks ago at the Vreed-En-Hoop, New Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD) village, was also recovered.
However, the Commander noted that the gun is a “replica”, it is considered a “toy gun” but it was used during the commissioning of the robbery at the popular drinking establishment. He added that the victims would not have been able to tell the difference.
Those two suspects are also allegedly part of the quartet that hijacked a hire car on January 3, 2020, and executed a daring robbery at the “Fresh Bar” in Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). The car was attached to a taxi service based on the WCD.
On the night of the robbery, the suspects reportedly stopped the car under the pretence of hiring it but instead, after entering, they held up the driver.
Sometime around 23:05h, a gunman and a knife-toting bandit stormed into the drinking establishment where they assaulted the owners and customers before relieving them of an undisclosed amount of cash and gold jewellery.
One customer was in the gambling section when the knife-toting bandit attacked him and relieved him of a gold band and gold chain. After the robbery, the men rushed into a white motor car that had been parked outside the bar and made good their escape.
