SWIFT action by members of the public, more so, residents of Melanie Damishana on the East Coast of Demerara, saw the recovery of stolen cash, a cellphone and an unlicensed firearm after they pursued a bandit following a daring daylight armed robbery yesterday.

The police reported that around 13:40 hrs on July 28, 2015, at Melanie Damishana Public Road, Bibi Zalifa Bacchus, 36, of Nootenzuil, also on the East Coast, was robbed of $200,000 in cash and a cellphone by a man armed with a handgun.

Investigations revealed that Bacchus was in a motor vehicle that had sustained a puncture and the suspect held her up and demanded the articles, which she handed over and the bandit escaped on a bicycle.

However, in his haste to escape, the suspect was struck down by a motor car and the stolen money and the firearm fell on the roadway.

The robber abandoned the booty as public-spirited persons responded. He joined a motorcar that is believed to have been driven by an accomplice and escaped.

The stolen money and the firearm, a .32 revolver with four rounds, and the bicycle have been recovered and they were handed over to the police by residents.