Agro-chemical store in Berbice robbed; losses estimated in millions
Thieves made off with millions of dollars in agricultural products after raiding a store in Berbice, leaving the business counting heavy losses.
An agro-chemical store called Vickash Enterprise located at Number 64 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) shortly after 01:00hrs on Sunday.
Millions of dollars’ worth of items was stolen. These include several motor blowers and an outboard engine. Owner of the business, Bharrat Sukhu called ‘Buckey” told this publication that the safe with the money was also raided, and about $500,000 which represented Saturday’s sales was stolen.
Bharrat Sukhu pointing to the window which was cut open
“They cut two locks out from this door. They break the door and then they saw the inside door from this store room to get into the shop. They saw the hinges off. And this is not one person. To my knowledge, this got to be four persons or three persons do this work,” the businessman said.
The discovery was made on Sunday morning when an employee opened the door.
According to Sukhu, a total of 20 motor blowers were removed from his store.
“The value of those motor blower is $130,000 each so it is $2.6 million. There was an outboard engine for $500,000 and cash. To be exact, I wouldn’t be able to say how much, but close to $600,000 in cash.”
According to Sukhu, who has been operating the business for over 25 years, this is not the first time that his business has been targeted and robbed by thieves.
“And this is about 5 to 6 times I encounter this at this business. People come and break into the places but this one here is very serious at this time because I have receipts of all the stuff that is stolen. The boat engine, 20 motor blower which I buy from a company. I got receipts, I got all the serial numbers. And the thief in around this area is one specific person,” he said.
The intruders escaped through the back and then broke into the neighbour’s yard and took the back gate eventually making it onto the back street.
“We found the box in the back street. They take the motor blower out of the box because to move the stuff in the box is a lot of movement.”
Police have arrested several persons for questioning as investigation continues.
