Armed bandits invade Corentyne home, escape with car, valuables

…“something must be done about these bandits” – overseas-based Guyanese

A 58-year-old overseas-based housewife and her son, a 31-year-old security guard, were robbed by two armed men who invaded their house at Number 73 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), during the wee hours of Monday.

Police said the family of two had attended a wake in the community and at around 00:45h, the 58-year-old woman, Shamwattie Naipaul, returned home and went to take a nap while waiting for her son, the security guard, to return home.
According to Naipaul, a cousin was with her and had also fallen asleep as her son had gone to drop persons from the wake home.
She said she was awoken at about 01:20h by someone trying to take two rings off of her finger.

“When I open my eyes he was standing over me and had a gun pointed to my head and he told to be quiet.”
She said one of the rings was her wedding band which she has been wearing for more than 30 years.
“He start to pull the chain off my neck and I tell him that I will take it off because he might burst it… he was standing by my head and the other one was standing by my cousin foot; he had a gun pointing at her. This one with me ask me for the money and I tell him that I don’t have money. He say give me the money quick before I do something to you.”
She said the men then ransacked the house and in addition to the jewellery and car, the bandits also carted off with some pieces of clothing, a pair of sneakers, and some electronic games.

“And they make off with whatever they get. How much things they want they take.”
She said that as her son was approaching, they could see the car’s headlights reflecting from the street and then she heard someone running up the step and urged the two intruders to leave.
However, as her son approached, he noticed that the door was wrenched open and he immediately fled the scene, leaving the car with the ignition on.
“He run towards the guys that he had just drop off, so they (bandits) jump in the car and drive away with it… Yes, Police did come but till after 3 o’clock, a man and a lady Police come.”
The car was discovered on Monday, abandoned a few villages away.
It was later discovered that a hole was cut in the fence to gain entry to the yard. Naipaul explained that there was a bright light under the house but it did not act as a hindrance to the bandits using a screwdriver to pry open the front door.
Naipaul is in the country for her brother’s funeral.
Police are said to be investigating.
On October 2, two overseas-based Guyanese were also victims when armed bandits terrorised a family at Number 68 Village, also on the Corentyne, and escaped with cash and jewellery.
That attack was carried out by four masked men, three armed with handguns and one armed with a knife.  They escaped with over $1 million in cash and valuables after beating some family members including a 2-year-old child.
Naipaul said these attacks on Guyanese who return home is becoming more frequent.
“You can’t even come here anymore. You got you house and you have everything. Something must be done about these bandits,” the frustrated woman said. (G4)