Bandit shot, accomplices nabbed after Bourda jewellery store robbery

…“This is a great embarrassment to my life” – mother to shot son

Three suspects who pulled off a daring robbery at Bharat’s Jewellery Store on Robb Street and Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown on Wednesday are now in Police custody after being caught shortly after the pilfering. One of the bandits was shot in the process.

The shot suspect in the Police vehicle

The suspect was shot to his leg, after cops stormed the South Road, Georgetown area just moments after they received reports of the robbery.
Guyana Times understands that the injured bandit and his two accomplices had just robbed the Bharat’s Jewellery Store and ended up in the South Road area.
The trio were cornered by Police, and immediately went into hiding.
It was reported that during the officers’ search, a man was found with a gunshot wound by a mob of persons, who found him hiding in a yard in the vicinity.
This publication was told by a resident that he was alerted that the bandits were lurking in the area after a stray bullet struck his water tank.
He was unable to give further details. Police have since said that no rank fired any shots and it is unclear how the man received the gunshot wound.
After almost one hour of searching the area, law enforcement officers managed to arrest the other two suspects.
They are now in Police custody assisting with investigations.

A large crowd gathered along South Road

Meanwhile, the 48-year-old owner of Bharat’s Jewellery Store explained that he was at his store on Wednesday about 12:15h when the three young men entered.
He said he turned away for less than a minute and then he heard a loud sound; as he turned around, one of the perpetrators, who was armed with a gun, pointed the weapon at him.
His two accomplices attempted to smash one of the showcases, but it did not break and they went to another showcase which they broke and removed a quantity of jewellery before escaping with a cellphone valued $38,000, a small quantity of gold chains, rings and earrings.
They then ran south on Orange Walk.
Police in a statement said that a 30-year-old salesman at the jewellery store was also robbed.
According to Police, ranks on patrol duty were informed of the robbery and they gave chase in the suspects’ direction as they headed to South Road, Georgetown.
The suspects – on seeing the ranks – continued to run in different directions in order to escape, but they were cornered between Orange Walk and Alexander Street.
“One of the suspects, who sustained what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his right upper thigh, was searched, but nothing was found on him or the others,” the Police said.
The injured suspect was escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he is presently receiving medical attention under Police guard.
This is the second time in five years that the Bharat’s Jewellery Store has been robbed. In 2016, bandits flocked the store and made off with a quantity of valuables.
On the scene, the mother of the shot bandit, in great frustration, told him: “This is a great embarrassment to my life” as Police arrested him.
Meanwhile, business owners in the area while commending Police for the quick response said that the presence of more law enforcement was needed.
One business owner told this publication that only last week a stall owner in the Bourda Market was robbed in a similar manner.
“The City Constabulary is a waste of time; the Police need a better presence in the area. Christmas is approaching and better security measures need to be put in place to protect businesses and citizens. Something needs to be done about security in this country,” one businessman said. (G9)