Cutlass-wielding bandit caught after robbing neighbour

Police in Berbice were able to catch a known criminal who led them into a swamp after he went into his neighbour’s house and robbed her of cash and jewellery using a cutlass.

The incident took place about 08:00h on Monday at Lot 126 Lord Street, Fort Ordinance, Canje, Berbice.
According to Lalita Kellawan, 55, she was in the kitchen of her home when her neighbour came through the door brandishing a cutlass.
She said the man grabbed her and choked her. At the time, her 90-year-old mother was in a wheelchair outside the house.
“Me see this person – me neighbour, me know he does thief, but Ah never thought he would ah do something so close. He just walk in with a cutlass and he vice me with the same hand with the cutlass.”
He threw the woman onto a bed while still holding her throat and demanded cash and other valuables. She was then taken to the upper flat where she handed him a quantity of foreign currency, including US$90 and $4000 in local currency, along with a cellular phone.
Kellawan related that the jewellery was worth $190,000 and the cellular phone, $7000.
Police later arrested Clifton Ramsarran, known as “Witch”, who was recently released from prison for larceny.
According to reports, the man was in the vicinity of the Berbice Bridge when a patrol approached. He then exited the car in which he was travelling and headed into the bushes. He was soon after apprehended. The stolen items were recovered.
He is expected to be charged shortly.