Bandits made off with all of the mobile phones from Digicel’s Vreed-en-hoop outlet on Monday
Residents and business owners in and around Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) are living in fear following an ongoing spate of robbery attacks with excessive violence.
Police on Tuesday confirmed that two bandits invaded the Players Bar at Crane Old Road, WCD, earlier that day around 09:00h and reportedly stole $150,000 in cash from the business before making their escape on two red CG motorcycles.
The female shopkeeper told this newspaper that she attempted to escape, but she fell and was then grabbed by the bandits who made threats on her life. The proprietors were not present at the time of the brazen attack.
The shopkeeper, who is also a mother of one, added that it was only last week Sunday (September 18) that four bandits, two of whom were armed with guns, stormed the same bar. She said on that occasion her gold chain and mobile phone were also stolen. The sum of $35,000 in cash was also stolen during the first robbery.
The shopkeeper explained that even though she fears for her life she still has to work in order to support her child.
Meanwhile, about 14:00h on Monday, Digicel’s Vreed-en-Hoop outlet was robbed by three gunmen, who escaped with the company’s mobile phones. Reports indicate that the men fled in a white Toyota Allion which was parked outside the establishment.
Guyana Times understands that the men had pretended to be customers before pulling their weapons on a customer and staff, who they robbed of their valuables. When this newspaper visited the scene on Tuesday afternoon, the business was shut tight.
Shopkeepers in nearby establishments expressed great fear in conducting their business operations, with some even claiming that Police would sometimes be slow to respond to reports of such crimes.
However, one of the proprietors of the RH Value Supermarket at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, whose business was also robbed over the weekend, noted that Police responded well to her ordeal.
According to the still distraught mother, just before 15:00h on Saturday, armed bandits attacked her and her four children.
She explained that they grabbed her by the throat and pulled a gun on her son before they made off with $200,000 in cash and $50,000 in phone cards. The woman appealed for more Police patrols around the area.
“If [Police] are out there, [business people] will know that somebody is looking out for them,” she noted, adding that business has slowed especially with the increased incidence of crime in the Vreed-en-Hoop area.
Police investigations into all of the robberies are continuing.
