SCORES of pensioners who showed up yesterday at the Beterverwagting Post Office, East Coast Demerara for their pensions had to return home empty-handed after two gunmen stormed the building around 09:50 hrs and carted off $3M in cash.

‘C’ Division Commander Christopher Griffith told this publication that the bandits went into the post office shortly after it opened for business and broke the glass window near one of the clerks with a hammer, after which they asked for the ‘postmaster.’

The postmistress was then accosted and they demanded that she hand over the money “they just bring in,” and took her to the safe. The postmistress quickly handed over the bag containing $3M which was transported to the location a short time before the bandits struck.

Griffith added that both men were armed with handguns and arrived and left in a white 192 Toyota Carina motorcar bearing what was later discovered to be a false number plate, PKK 4302.

He stated that the police found a hire car with the same number plate at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, but it was not the getaway car.

The divisional commander is optimistic that the bandits will soon be apprehended since they are following some leads.

Bandits had robbed the Campbellville Post Office in similar manner on June 10, 2014, when a lone gunman made off with $3M in cash and vouchers after kicking in the inner door to an office where the money was being kept.

It happened at about 07:30 hrs, shortly after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had escorted a canister with cash and had lodged same in the storage area.

The gunman made his way into the post office and kicked in a door that leads to the clerks and the office, after which he cornered several staffers who were manning the counter and demanded money. He then went into the office and took the money that had been earlier lodged there by the police.

The bandit pounced on, and robbed the place in a timely, well orchestrated manner, as if he had been observing the movements of employees.

His accomplice awaited him in front of the post office on a CG motorcycle upon which he made his speedy getaway before the police showed up.
Although no one was injured and no shots had been fired, employees were all traumatised.
There are 67 post offices countrywide, with a staff complement of about 500 employees.

(By Michel Outridge)