Bandits rob businessman at traffic light

An East Coast Demerara businessman was left traumatised after bandits on a motorcycle robbed him at a Main Street, Georgetown traffic light.
The incident occurred just after midday on Wednesday, in front of the Finance Ministry.robbery-2
Guyana Times understands that the businessman had just left a Water Street, Georgetown bank and was on his way home when he was attacked. It is believed that he was tailed by the bandits from the bank.
According to reports reaching this newspaper, the businessman was in his Toyota Hilux pickup along with another person at the traffic light, at Main and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown when two men rode up alongside them on a CG motorcycle.
This newspaper was told that the pillion rider jumped off the bike and tried to open the door of the pickup; however, it was locked. This prompted the bandit to whip out a firearm and discharged a single gunshot into the window. The gunman then grabbed a bag, containing an undisclosed sum of cash, from the men in the pickup, before joining his accomplice on the motorcycle and speeding away.
Eyewitnesses related their shock at the speed at which the perpetrators operated.
“All this happened in less than 20 seconds. What was chilling is how easily these guys operate… That was criminally motivated; that’s our reality. I’m still in awe at what I just witnessed,” one eyewitness, who was also in his vehicle at the traffic light, wrote in a social media post.
Luckily, no one was injured in the incident. The Police are investigating the matter and are reviewing CCTV footage obtained from the area.
Of recent, there have been many robberies committed by thieves on motorcycles across the country. However, some good investigative work by Police detectives recently saw the arrest of a 26-year-old serial robber of Lot 86 Nelson Street, Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara, who is believed to have used a motorcycle with his accomplice to commit a spate of robberies on gas stations and supermarkets along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
Uriel Mentore was charged and placed before the courts on six counts of armed robbery and attempted robbery between October 19 and November 11, 2016, during which he stole in excess of $3.3 million in cash and valuables.
The first charge states that on October 19, he robbed Shivo’s Supermarket at Nonpareil, ECD; then on November 3, he robbed Wisdom Supermarket at Vryheid’s Lust, ECD; and the following day, he attempted to rob Daily’s Supermarket located at Park Street, Enterprise, ECD.
The accused was also charged for robbing R Prashad’s Service Station located on the Mon Repos Railway Embankment, ECD on November 5, attempting to rob the Shell Gas Station at Ogle, ECD on November 9, and robbing Viscom Electronics at Mon Repos Public Road, ECD on November 11, during which he was nabbed.
The Police had confiscated the motorcycle and two full-faced protective helmets that are believed to have been used during the commission of the crimes. Mentore was remanded to prison until December 15.