Barber, mother among 5 arrested for WBD robbery

– over $7M, jewellery stolen from businessman handed over

A mother and son are among five persons in Police custody following Thursday’s daring daylight robbery at Coghlan Dam, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
Their arrests have led to the discovery of over $7 million in cash and several pieces of gold jewellery which were taken during the robbery.
In fact, Police stated that the bandits escaped with $10.2 million in cash and a quantity of gold jewellery valued at $680,000 belonging to a businessman along with another $2.8 million and a quantity of gold jewellery valued at $980,000 belonging to his wife.

Police stated that the robbery took place sometime between 08:00 and 09:00h on Thursday last.
Reports are that the victims are living in a one-flat concrete and wooden building and on the date and time in question, the businessman’s wife secured the home and went to the doctor’s office at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), to take her son, who was unwell.
At about 09:00h, the woman returned home and discovered the top half of the back access door to the house wrenched off.
Upon seeing this, she immediately made checks in the house during which she saw her bedroom ransacked. The cash that was kept in a bag in the wardrobe along with several pieces of jewellery that were on the vanity were missing.
The matter was reported to the Police and the scene was processed and several persons in the area were questioned.
As investigations intensified, two main suspects, a 20-year-old barber and a 45-year-old farmer, both of Coldingen, East Coast Demerara, were arrested on Friday.
During interrogation, the suspects took detectives to their residences where one of them pointed out two areas in his yard where he had buried the loot.
The area was dug up and a total of $1,160,000 was found in one hole and another $1,495,000 was found in another along with a quantity of jewellery.
The suspect’s mother, a cleaner who also resides at Coldingen, ECD, handed over another $1,225,000.
The farmer, on the other hand, took the investigators to an area on his farm but nothing was found. Nevertheless, his wife – a 47-year-old vendor – handed over $1,495,000 and a quantity of gold jewellery to the Police. In addition, her 38-year-old adopted brother of Non-Pareil, ECD, also handed over $1,660,000 which they both claimed was given to them by the farmer.
The five persons were all arrested and are assisting with the investigations.