BERBICE police appear to be denting a criminal gang that they believe was responsible for several robberies committed on the Corentyne Coast, and for which lawmen complicity had been alleged.Investigators report narrowly missing the arrest of a suspected bandit at Number 65 Village, Corentyne at about 20:30hrs on Saturday. He managed to elude capture, but has left behind a gun with ammunition.

“The man managed to escape, but left behind a 16-gauge shotgun with one cartridge, which was recovered by the police,” Guyana Police Force spokesman, Asst. Commissioner Ivelaw Whittaker, said in a statement.

Police have also said that a suspect who was arrested at Number 65 Village on Friday is expected to appear at the Whim Magistrate’s Court on Monday to answer four charges of robbery under arms.

The arrest and seizure comes less than one month after residents had accused police of being complicit, or directly involved, in a number of those robberies.

At the request of Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, Police Commissioner, Leroy Brumell had transferred all the ranks who had been stationed at the Number 51 Police Station in an effort to appease the incensed residents, and reassured residents at a meeting there that every effort would be made to go after the perpetrators.