A Ruimzeight businesswoman, 52, and two workers were robbed Friday by armed bandits. However, Police have apprehended one of the suspects and are on the hunt for the remaining three.
Police Headquarters reported that three of the four suspects were armed with handguns and went to the woman’s house at about 12:40 hrs Friday.
A goldsmith workshop is located on the lower flat of the woman’s two-storey house at Ruimzeight, West Coast Demerara. When the bandits arrived there, the businesswoman was in her kitchen area while two of her workers, aged 48 and 23, were working in the shop.
The businesswoman said she suddenly saw three suspects appear at her back door, which was opened, and they pointed their firearms at her and told her not to make a sound.
The suspects then took her into the workshop where they met the two workers. The woman was relieved of two pairs of gold bangles, one pair of gold earrings, a gold ring, and a gold band. The workers were relieved of their cellphones.
Police said the suspects then started to make demands for more gold and money, and, in the process, one of the suspects fired a shot in the direction of the businesswoman.
Other residents, however, heard the gunshot and started to run towards the businesswoman’s house. As such, the suspects exited the businesswoman’s yard and went into a white Allion motorcar (#HC 921), which was parked near the house.
Realising that the businesswoman was being robbed, several residents blocked the road, causing the car to come to a halt. The three gunmen and the driver then reportedly exited the vehicle and escaped on foot into the direction of the Ruimzeight Backlands
The Police were summoned, and on arrival, the car was checked. A man was seen in the back seat with his hands and feet tied up. An injury was also seen at the top of his head.
When questioned about the injury, the man claimed that several residents hit him in the head. He later identified himself as Garfield Benjamin called ‘Carry’, a 50-year-old Fireman attached to La-Grange Fire Station and a resident/taxi driver from Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.
Benjamin told investigators that on Friday, at about 11:30 hrs, he was at the Vreed-en-Hoop junction, when the four men (suspects) approached him and asked if he was working.
After responding in the affirmative, the suspects reportedly joined his car and requested to go to Crane. While in the car, he said two of the suspects pulled out firearms from their waist and ordered him to pull over to the side of the road. They then tied his hands and feet with plastic straps and put him in the back seat of the car.
One of the suspects drove the car to the scene, where the other three suspects exited the vehicle and entered the yard.
Police in Regional Division #3 launched a manhunt for the four suspects, and residents of Hague joined them in capturing one of them on Friday.
The suspect in custody, when interviewed, has reportedly corroborated Benjamin’s story.
Police are also acting on the information provided by the suspect in custody as they continue to track down his three accomplices.
