Police investigators recovered cash totaling $7 million and other valuables that were reportedly stolen from businessman Coglan Dam during a recent break-and-enter at his West Bank Demerara (WBD) home.
Five persons are in custody including a mother and her son who works as a barber.
Police said a total of $13 million in cash and a quantity of gold jewellery valued at $1.6 million and belonging to the man and his wife were stolen.
The incident occurred between 08:00 hrs and 09:00 hrs on Thursday last.
A statement from Police Headquarters noted that the businessman’s wife secured the home on the date and went to the doctor’s office at Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD.
At about 09:00 hrs, she returned home and discovered the top half of her back door was wrenched open. Further checks in the home revealed that her bedroom alone was ransacked and the cash was missing from a bag in a wardrobe and the jewelry from the vanity.
The scene was processed by police and several persons in the area were questioned.
During the ongoing investigations, over $7M in cash stolen was recovered by the police.
On Friday between 14:00 hrs and 19:30 hrs, further investigations were carried out and the two main suspects, a 20-year-old barber and a 45-year-old farmer, (names withheld) of Coldingen, East Coast Demerara were arrested and interviewed.
The suspects took the Police to their Coldingen residence. One of the suspects pointed out two areas in his yard where he dug up and handed over to the Police $1,160,000, and $1,495,000 respectively and a quantity of gold jewelry.
The suspect’s mother, a cleaner who also resides at Coldingen, E.C.D handed over $1,225,000.
The other suspect (farmer) took the Police to an area on his farm where he dug and nothing was found. However, his wife, a 47-year-old vendor, handed over $1,495,000 and a quantity of gold jewelry; and her adopted brother, a 38-year-old of Non Pariel, ECD handed over $1,660,000, which they all claimed were given to them.
Statements were taken, the suspects were arrested and investigations continue.
Congratulations go out to the members of the Police Force and their swift action in recovering the stolen loot. It is a good thing for all the perpetrators to be brought to justice. People must be free to keep their possessions. Nobody knows what sacrifices those people might have made to obtain what they have.