IN the wake of brazen armed robberies in the city and its environs within recent times, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday said that the use of closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) as a form of security has many advantages and is a plus for any business or home.In an incident at the Mambo Bar last year Shelliza Basir-Lall, 33, of Lot 2 Charity, Essequibo Coast was gunned down while Raymond Lall, 36 and Parmanand Persaud, 32, of Lot 27 Block ‘B’, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara as well as the Lalls chauffeur, Badatunde ‘Reggae’ Nedd of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, were injured.

At about 23:00hrs on the fateful night, the Lalls went to the Mambo Bar on Barr Street, Kitty with three friends to hang out.As midnight approached, a white Toyota Carina AT 212 car pulled up and two masked men exited and started to shoot.

The woman got up and was running for safety when she was shot. It was reported that at least 19 9mm spent shells were recovered at the scene.

This popular bar has CCTV cameras, but they were not functioning at the time of the shooting and that has put a damper on the probe.

Deterrent

Persaud yesterday told this publication that CCTV cameras are a deterrent to criminals because they don’t want to get caught, so once they are aware that CCTV cameras are at a specific business place or residence they change targets.

He explained that CCTV footage is admissible in court and also assists the police in investigating crimes.
He noted that the use of CCTV cameras in any business or residence is a plus for the owners in so many ways.

Persaud added too that people also need to be more security conscious and once they can afford to install CCTV cameras, they should by all means. This should be on the agendas of all business places as it gives a security advantage.

On January 8, 2014, three robbers descended on Pencil and Sur Pools Bar at Lot 106 Gandhi Street, Enterprise, East Coast Demerara. This business place has CCTV cameras but the system was not operational at the time. However, following the robbery the owners have installed cameras in and around the premises.

Police had reported that at about 20:40 hrs businessman Surindra Ramjass, 30, was in his liquor restaurant with three customers when three men entered, two of whom were armed with a handgun and a chopper.
The men held up Ramjass and the three others and took away cash, cell phones and alcohol before escaping.

Later, police ranks at a road block at Cove and John, ECD, observed that a car which was approaching suddenly turned back. The police pursued the vehicle and subsequently caught up with it. Two men escaped from the vehicle, while the third man was arrested.

The man has been identified as one of the perpetrators of the armed robbery at the liquor restaurant. A cell phone, identified as belonging to one of the victims, and a quantity of alcohol were recovered.
Written By Michel Outridge