A QUICK response from the police on the East Coast of Demerara on Tuesday night saw the arrest of three men in the East Coast village of Success. Reports are that the men travelled to the village from a community in Georgetown, where they robbed a shop using cutlasses and a gun.

Captured are Cleon Horshan, 20, of 430 West Ruimveldt; Anthony Cha, 31, of 437 West Ruimveldt and Kevin Anthony, 22, of 271 West Ruimveldt. An accomplice who was also with them managed to escape in what residents say was a car with which they had travelled to the location.
According to information reaching this newspaper from persons who live in the vicinity, the men showed up at approximately 21.40hrs at the “Peter Rum Shop” in Success, where they proceeded to attack occupants of the shop.
The bandits also robbed the occupants by taking away cash and other valuables before they fled the scene. However, the victims raised an alarm and residents came out in their numbers and cornered the bandits forcing them to seek cover in neighbouring premises and trenches, while the police were summoned to the location.
The police reportedly arrived promptly and upon seeing the police vehicle, the bandit who was armed with the gun reportedly opened fire in the direction of the ranks who returned fire hitting him to the left foot in the process, as the other surrendered and another fled.
Members of the Community Policing Group which has a base nearby, reportedly also assisted in cornering the bandits.
According to reports, angry residents inflicted a beating on one of the suspects, while the police were able to rescue the other from the same fate. The Guyana Chronicle was told that one of the injured bandits was scheduled to undergo surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital, while the other was admitted and is under police guard. The third suspect is in police custody assisting with the investigation.
When the Guyana Chronicle arrived at the location yesterday morning, residents were loud in their praise for the police and members of the Community Policing Group for their timely response that saw the capture of the men.
The police are working on the theory that the fourth bandit who managed to escape is living in the vicinity of the other and as such searches were conducted in the West Ruimveldt community, even as they depend on the suspect who is in custody to inform them of who the fourth man is.