RESIDENTS of Plantation Providence, East Bank Demerara are calling for increased police presence in their community in light of the recent spate of armed robberies and home burglaries.

One frustrated resident, who gave her name as Lila, told the Guyana Chronicle that a month ago she was held at gunpoint in front of her home, while three bandits relieved her of almost $1M, which she had withdrawn from the bank to buy building materials.

Additionally, according to the residents, vehicles have been broken into and almost completely stripped of its parts. Several reports have been made at the Providence Police Station but to date no arrests have been made.

One resident, who requested to remain anonymous, explained that her house was recently broken into when she was away on a two-week vacation overseas. The woman further pointed out that the thieves had carted off several household and kitchen items, electronics, gold jewellery and several pieces of furniture.

“I believe that there should be a police outpost in the community, which would make over lives safer in the village,” the woman said.

Another villager, Dian Hollingsworth, pointed out that residents in the New Providence area should form their own community policing group to help combat crime and streetlights should go up along the lengthy main road. She also pointed out that persons in the area are also viciously attacked during the night .by robbers.

“ A few weeks ago a man was robbed at the road head while awaiting a taxi… the bandits rode up behind him on a bicycle with a gun and took away all of the man’s money”, the woman stressed.

Another homeowner, Savita Persaud pointed out that many of the houses are either new or under construction, which again poses another problem, in that they are fair game for thieves on the lookout for building materials and whatever else of value they can find.

“Many homeowners in the area have not yet built fences around their properties, which is practically a safe haven for potential thieves who would often scavenge the area for their next bust,” Persaud explained.

Residents of Plantation Providence are calling on the relevant authorities to increase police presence in the area and to look into the situation in their village before the matter gets completely out of hand.