-victims recount the harrowing ordeal
TWO SUSPECTS are presently in police custody following a brash daylight robbery carried out at Lahago’s Super Centre in Montrose on the East Coast of Demerara. According to a press release issued by the Police Public Relations Office, the incident occurred at about 12:35hrs on Friday afternoon when two men who were armed with handguns, entered the supermarket under the pretext of purchasing a soft drink and held up the two female employees.
They took away $80,000.00, a quantity of cell-phone cards and two cell phones and subsequently escaped on foot.
The police responded promptly to the report and with the help of some community policing members were able to apprehend the two suspects in the canefields in the LBI area.
A .32 snub-nose revolver with four rounds, along with a sum of money were found in one of the robber’s possession, both suspects are in police custody assisting with the investigations.
Relating the events of that day, Anupa Baburam, daughter of the proprietor who was in the store with another employee at the time, explained that the incident has left her traumatized.
She noted that the two robbers entered the store separately; the first one asked for a one-litre drink and paid for it, and while her employee went to assist him, the other one came in shortly after and asked for a bottle of water.
“After purchasing the drinks they went out, and when they were half-way out of the yard, they turned around and ran in holding a gun,” she lamented.
At this point, she said they instructed her to stay where she was behind the cash register and demanded the money, threatening her if she failed to comply.
Ms. Baburam said, “I told them I had no money. They also threatened to shoot the one customer in the store at the time and forced him and the staff behind the counter.”
The perpetrators then took two cell phones, which were on the counter and emptied the drawer,that contained a quantity of money.
Visibly shaken, the young woman stated, “One of them grab me by my shirt and chuck me at the back, then they took all of the money out of the drawer.”
She recounted with relief that at that time a sales man was approaching the store, which seemed to have scared them off.
“One of them said lets roll, people coming and I shouted for thief and they ran away,” Baburam said.
Continuing, she recalled that both she and her employee then ran into the street, and attempted to raise an alarm, to no avail.
Despite her failed attempts to solicit help from motorists, assistance was rendered by the Montrose Community Policing Group, who collaborated with Police ranks to capture the bandit.
As to the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts to seize the brigands, proprietor of the supermarket, Lachminie Baburam expressed her gratitude to all those persons who aided her family in their time of need.
She said, “The community banded together and really came out to help us so I want to say thank you to the members of all of the Policing Groups from the various villages who helped and also the members of the Police Force.”
In addition, Mrs. Baburam also encouraged community members, especially business owners to be more security conscious to avoid similar such occurrences.
“Thank God no one was hurt but we all need to be more vigilant especially during this time when this kind of thing is happening more frequently,” she stressed.