Residents of Smithfield, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday told Guyana Times that Friday evening was the first time for the week that they had a good nights’ rest. This was after four persons were taken into custody after a spate of breaking and entering at Smithfield during the month, which had escalated and become nightly over the past week.
A back door which was wrenched open
The spate of robberies started in early September when an 18-year-old boy was pounced on by four armed men. According to the teenager, he was on his way home when the men met him three houses from his home. One had a gun, another had a cutlass and two were carrying crow bars. He said he was searched and asked where he was going. The teenager said they did not take anything from him.
The same night a re-migrant’s home was broken into. According to the re-migrant, neighbours told him that three men broke into the lower flat of his home. He said they appeared to have targeted a water pump, but it was too large for them to remove. They however left with a smaller water pump and a pressure washer. The following night, on September 12, 2018, another house in Smithfield was broken into. No one was at home at the time of the burglary. Entry was made by cutting open a grilled window. The bandits removed a flat screen television, among other articles. The house on the opposite side of the street was also broken into and electronic devices were also stolen. Reports are that the owner heard a strange sound and upon checking, saw a flashlight moving in her house.
According to her, two men entered her bedroom and demanded cash and jewellery. One carried a cutlass and the other a crow bar. The bandits took money they found in two purses along with two laptop computers, a DVD player, two cellular phones and a television set.
A window the bandits tried to use to gain entry to a home
The following morning, a building adjacent to hers was broken into. The bandits broke open a window and stole cellular phones, an electronic tablet, jewellery, wrist watches, cash and alcohol.
According to the owner of that home, she was awoken by a telephone call. Thereafter, she realised that her front door was opened and several articles were missing from her home.
During last week, residents raised an alarm after bandits were seen in the community. Guyana Times was told that six men were seen in the area, but they fled after they attempted to steal a motorbike which failed to start.
According to the residents who have formed a security group, they operate by calling neighbours in the community by telephone whenever they suspect that the bandits are trying to get into a home.
Police were able to apprehend two men; one of them at the time had a bag with articles which were stolen from a home.
Further investigation led to the recovery of more articles at a home in a community next to Smithfield, Angoys Avenue. Two more persons were arrested there.
The Police continue to investigate.
