Carjackers went on a spree Monday evening attacking two private-hire operators in separate incidents on the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) and East Bank of Essequibo (EBE). The modus operandi by the perpetrators has caused investigators to believe that they were either part of the same network or that the attackers were the same in both cases.
The car which was stolen from taxi operator Harry NarineThe car retrieved by Police after hijackers abandoned it
In the first instance, two young males exit a minibus about 21:20h on Monday and hired taxi driver Harry Narine, 28, called “Danny” from the base on the Zeelugt Public Road to transport them into the New Scheme.
Guyana Times was told by a relative of the victim that the men directed him to the back of the Zeelugt New Housing Scheme, which was reportedly dark. As he was driving in, Narine observed two men standing by a koker, but continued driving further into the scheme. However, after reaching some distance, the two passengers informed him that they had given him the wrong directions and asked that they turn around.
The taxi operator quickly complied and as they were heading back out of the scheme, they again passed the two men at the koker and his passengers ordered him to stop. Immediately after, the two lurking men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, reportedly pounced on Narine and began hitting him about his head and body. The two passengers subsequently joined in beating the driver.
The four men then dragged Narine out of the car and threw him into a nearby trench before escaping in the man’s silver-grey Toyota Premio car, bearing registration number PSS 9929.
About an hour later, a similar incident occurred on the West Coast of Demerara; however, Police ranks managed to retrieve the stolen motor car after the hijackers abandoned the vehicle during a chase.
According to reports, taxi driver Jailall Mohadeo, 30, of Cornelia Ida, was at his service base located at De Willem Public Road when two males hired him about 22:30h to transport them into CI New Housing Scheme.
On arrival at their destination, the two passengers, along with two other armed men, attacked the driver and escaped with the man’s Toyota Premio car, bearing registration number PNN 1952.
However, the suspects subsequently encountered a Police road block in front of the Den Amstel Police Station and immediately changed direction. This caught the attention of the ranks, who in turn pursued the vehicle.
Shortly after, the suspects abandoned the vehicle and escaped into some nearby bushes. The lawmen have since taken possession of the vehicle, which is currently at the Leonora Police Station.
Detectives are working diligently to apprehend the carjackers, whose actions appeared to have been well-coordinated.
Last year, there was a spike in vehicular hijacking cases. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had issued several notices previously, warning taxi operators of carjackers who have amped up attacks on drivers of Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio motor cars under the pretext of wanting taxis.
