COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFRAID TO WALK STREETS, POLICE DEPENDING ON INFO FROM VICTIMS.
A gang of armed bicycle riding bandits is terrorizing residents in several communities along the West Coast of Demerara. Guyana Times on a visit to the Communities of Met en meerzorg, Tuschen and Zeelugt met with a number of residents who were either beaten, robbed or injured after attempting to fight off the bandits.
According to Met en Meerzorg Railway view resident Karan Persaud, approximately six weeks ago he and another friend were on their way home after purchasing Chinese food from a shop in nearby De Kinderen when they were approached by three young men known to them. According to Persaud, the men who were riding bicycles demanded all the valuables they had.
After taking away a silver band from Persaud’s colleague, both men’s phone, and ‘fine change,’ they (bandits) escaped through an empty house lot. Persaud said after he refused to hand over his valuables he was chopped in the hand while his colleague received a chop on his left foot. Neighborhood police who were patrolling at the same time came to assist the men but the bandits escaped.
Faziela Boodram another resident relayed that she too was robbed on June 25 around 17.30 hrs on Redspot Street when two men walked up to her with a knife and pulled off her gold bracelet worth $40,000 and a pair of bangles worth $40,000. The robbery happened in full view of several persons. The matter was reported to the Leonora Police station but no one was arrested nor was any of the Jewellery recovered.
He also noted that Redspot Street is where the robberies commonly occur and persons using it are more at risk because there are no street lights.
This newspaper also spoke to the Headmistress of the Met en Meerzorg Nursery School who related that her daughter was robbed on the same street while coming home last year.
According to the woman who declined to state her name, her daughter who is a teacher of the
Zeeburg Secondary school, was on her way home when bandits on bicycles snatched a gold bangle from her which was worth $105,000. However the bangle was recovered after the son of a police officer at the De Kinderen Police station was identified as the culprit. The Headmistress also related that her husband was also robbed of $6,000, vegetables, and fruits. His salary check and ID was thrown away and recovered by a passerby the next day.
Guyana Times also learnt that several other persons were robbed and beaten. One woman was raped but has since relocated to the city. A pensioner who was on her way to the hospital did not escape the mercies of the bandits who took away her valuables. A GECOM employee was also robbed of her cell phone and salary as she was on her way home.
The Bicycling riding bandits this newspaper understands is operating out of a drug yard in De Kinderen. The Gang is said to be a very large one of young men no older than 25 years. They are also alleged to be smoking marijuana and ply their illicit trade to support the habit.
A single parent from Tuschen, Deomattie Jagmohan is the latest victim of the Zeelugt gang. She related that on Wednesday around 03.30 hrs on Clay Brick road she was on her way to ‘big market’ to sell when three boys riding bicycles approached her and “chuck way” her purse. She related that on several occasions the boys lurk along the road and on more than one instance she had to run away because of fear of being robbed.
She was robbed of $9,000, an ID card, and phonebook. Clay brick road has only one street light at the entrance to First Street.
Meanwhile Julian Wessels a pastor of the Ocean Garden Met en Meerzorg community told Guyana Times that the community needs street lights. He noted that the young men involved in the robbery are from the De Kinderen Community.
This newspaper learnt that the Community Policing group in Met en Meerzorg is not functioning because of the limited support received from the Leonora Police Station when they are called. However, Divisional Commander Balram Persaud has refuted this. He noted that he is not aware of any such incidence. Persaud pointed out that he is aware of a number of robberies that were reported but he still believes there is a large number that is still unreported. He noted that in such instances the Police are handicapped to act if they do not have information.
When asked what his division was doing to bridge the gap with the community to build public trust he noted that several meetings were held with Zeelugt, Windsor Forest, and Hubu residents. From these outreaches, a number of raids were conducted and over 27 suspects were arrested. However investigations are ongoing. The outreaches he noted will continue throughout his division. Persaud is encouraging residents to come forward if they have been the victim of any crime.
A gang of armed bicycle riding bandits is terrorizing residents in several communities along the West Coast of Demerara. Guyana Times on a visit to the Communities of Met en meerzorg, Tuschen and Zeelugt met with a number of residents who were either beaten, robbed or injured after attempting to fight off the bandits.
According to Met en Meerzorg Railway view resident Karan Persaud, approximately six weeks ago he and another friend were on their way home after purchasing Chinese food from a shop in nearby De Kinderen when they were approached by three young men known to them. According to Persaud, the men who were riding bicycles demanded all the valuables they had.
After taking away a silver band from Persaud’s colleague, both men’s phone, and ‘fine change,’ they (bandits) escaped through an empty house lot. Persaud said after he refused to hand over his valuables he was chopped in the hand while his colleague received a chop on his left foot. Neighborhood police who were patrolling at the same time came to assist the men but the bandits escaped.
Faziela Boodram another resident relayed that she too was robbed on June 25 around 17.30 hrs on Redspot Street when two men walked up to her with a knife and pulled off her gold bracelet worth $40,000 and a pair of bangles worth $40,000. The robbery happened in full view of several persons. The matter was reported to the Leonora Police station but no one was arrested nor was any of the Jewellery recovered.
He also noted that Redspot Street is where the robberies commonly occur and persons using it are more at risk because there are no street lights.
This newspaper also spoke to the Headmistress of the Met en Meerzorg Nursery School who related that her daughter was robbed on the same street while coming home last year.
According to the woman who declined to state her name, her daughter who is a teacher of the
Zeeburg Secondary school, was on her way home when bandits on bicycles snatched a gold bangle from her which was worth $105,000. However the bangle was recovered after the son of a police officer at the De Kinderen Police station was identified as the culprit. The Headmistress also related that her husband was also robbed of $6,000, vegetables, and fruits. His salary check and ID was thrown away and recovered by a passerby the next day.
Guyana Times also learnt that several other persons were robbed and beaten. One woman was raped but has since relocated to the city. A pensioner who was on her way to the hospital did not escape the mercies of the bandits who took away her valuables. A GECOM employee was also robbed of her cell phone and salary as she was on her way home.
The Bicycling riding bandits this newspaper understands is operating out of a drug yard in De Kinderen. The Gang is said to be a very large one of young men no older than 25 years. They are also alleged to be smoking marijuana and ply their illicit trade to support the habit.
A single parent from Tuschen, Deomattie Jagmohan is the latest victim of the Zeelugt gang. She related that on Wednesday around 03.30 hrs on Clay Brick road she was on her way to ‘big market’ to sell when three boys riding bicycles approached her and “chuck way” her purse. She related that on several occasions the boys lurk along the road and on more than one instance she had to run away because of fear of being robbed.
She was robbed of $9,000, an ID card, and phonebook. Clay brick road has only one street light at the entrance to First Street.
Meanwhile Julian Wessels a pastor of the Ocean Garden Met en Meerzorg community told Guyana Times that the community needs street lights. He noted that the young men involved in the robbery are from the De Kinderen Community.
This newspaper learnt that the Community Policing group in Met en Meerzorg is not functioning because of the limited support received from the Leonora Police Station when they are called. However, Divisional Commander Balram Persaud has refuted this. He noted that he is not aware of any such incidence. Persaud pointed out that he is aware of a number of robberies that were reported but he still believes there is a large number that is still unreported. He noted that in such instances the Police are handicapped to act if they do not have information.
When asked what his division was doing to bridge the gap with the community to build public trust he noted that several meetings were held with Zeelugt, Windsor Forest, and Hubu residents. From these outreaches, a number of raids were conducted and over 27 suspects were arrested. However investigations are ongoing. The outreaches he noted will continue throughout his division. Persaud is encouraging residents to come forward if they have been the victim of any crime.
No comments:
Post a Comment