TWO gun-toting bandits on a pedal cycle yesterday placed a gun to the head of Supervisor Sandy Gobin of the Guy-America Furniture Store, located at 165/167 Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, and carted off close to nine hundred thousand dollars, part of which was Gobin’s personal money. Gobin said she arrived for work at approximately 10.45 yesterday morning, and the ordeal lasted less than two minutes.
The entire ordeal, including the criminals’ arrival and departure, was fortunately caught on camera.
In surveillance footage seen by the Guyana Chronicle, the two men, with caps pulled down in their faces, approached the store from West of Mandela Avenue; and as they entered, one whipped out a firearm from underneath his jersey and placed in to the head of Supervisor Gobin, who was at the time speaking to a fellow worker over the phone.
Gobin said the gunman then demanded that she hand over the money, and she replied that she had no money. The gunman’s accomplice then approached the desk, pulled the drawer, and took out her bag containing the company’s money, along with her personal money and other important documents.
Gobin said the incident occurred as she was talking on the phone with her female employer, who would usually give her directions for the day’s operation. She subsequently received a call from another employee, and was delayed in returning to her office.
She said that after carrying out the robbery, the men jumped on their cycle and rode off, escaping through Alexander Village.
The police were called in, and they conducted investigations. The cameras were very useful in picking up the entire ordeal, but the resolution did not allow for actual recognition of the robbers.
The Chronicle was told that the cameras were strategically placed but were not very high in resolution, and accordingly viewers cannot make out the persons who robbed the store.
One police source said that based on description given of one of the men, the police now have a prime suspect, and are looking for him. One police source said that if the description given is indeed that of the suspect which the police have in mind, then that individual is also wanted for several other robberies across the city.
The owner of the store, who gave his name as Ali, said that after reviewing footage from the security cameras, he is convinced that the robbery might be an inside job.
The Chronicle was told that the man whom police suspect in the robbery is said to be living not too far from the location. The store manager yesterday confirmed to this publication that one of the employees of the store also lives in the same area that the man is from.
When the Guyana Chronicle visited the store yesterday morning the supervisor had confiscated the mobile phones of two of the employees, including the employee living in the area that the bandit is suspected to be living also. However the police did not take that or any other employee down to the station for questioning.
Immediately after the robbery yesterday morning, the police went in search of their prime suspect, and were still searching for the man up to press time.
Supervisor Gobin said that after disembarking public transportation in the morning, she would usually walk from Ramp Road to her workplace, and yesterday morning was no different.
She said she would usually walk with cash to conduct the day’s activities, including paying debts owed by the company.
The company is currently reviewing its security operations, and the way it stores and handles money on the premises.
This is reportedly not the first time the entity has been robbed. According to Supervisor Gobin, the store was robbed by two men approximately five years ago, but she does not think the same robbers are involved this time.
She indicated that the first robbery was done by a tall Dougla person and a short East Indian guy, while this robbery was committed by an Indian guy and a Negro guy.
She was positive that should she see the guys again, especially the one who pointed the weapon at her, she would be able to identify him.
Yesterday the inconsolable supervisor said she did not like the way she felt, nor the fact that the company’s money had been taken from her. She said she was contemplating whether she should continue serving the company.