POLICE have reportedly beefed up security around the Demico House Fast Food Outlet and the Stabroek Market which have been recently targeted by criminal elements.Just recently a new gang have been robbing citizens in these two locations in the wee hours of the morning, during which they seemingly preferred to operate. Not so long ago, the police had pursued the gang as they were about to rob a male in front of the Demico Outlet, and the gang members had scattered in all directions on foot and bicycles.
According to ranks from the police outpost at the Stabroek Market Square, one male gang member has been apprehended and is assisting police with their investigations.
Yesterday a female rank at the Brickdam Police Station said that they are aware of the operations of this relatively new gang, and as such have increased their police patrols in the area.
This new gang has recently began to stalk and rob unsuspecting citizens around the Stabroek area in Georgetown with no regard for the fact that the Fire Service and the City Constabulary offices are just a few rods away from the point of their operations.
During three robberies committed by the gang, taxi drivers operating in the same area, and vendors getting late- night sales failed to intervene.
Interaction with several vendors who peddle their food by night has revealed that the gang comprise mostly teenagers and are armed and dangerous, causing onlookers to fear them greatly.
Some have indicated that the gang members are working in close collusion with a group of men who gamble for cash in the late- night hours outside the Demico House Outlets, as soon as they close their doors for the night.
Some food vendors are calling on the Guyana Police Force to have several armed police officers stand vigil in the areas where the gang operates , since one cannot predict the moments they will strike an unsuspecting individual.
Just last week the gang pounced on a male security guard who gave his name as “Mohan” of Annandale Village, and robbed him using what looked like a black handgun to hold him at gunpoint, as they took away a substantial amount of cash, a brand new wristwatch, a Blackberry cellular phone, and his wallet containing his national identification card, and other valuable documents.
Not long after this incident, the same gang attacked an East Indian male in front of the Demico House Fast Food Outlet, Stabroek, Georgetown. The man who was too shaken to engage in much conversation, however let on that he resides in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, and was on his way home after consuming alcohol with friends at a popular bar at Timehri.
The gangs number about eight individuals, inclusive of a lone female sporting a dyed “boy cut hairstyle.” This female is said to be acting as the” lookout person” in the group who alerts them if police happens to be nearby.
Security guard Edward Perez of the West Demerara district just last week narrowly missed becoming another victim by seeking refuge at vendors selling bread in the early morning hours.
This very gang was also seen twice recently loitering close to the gates of the Guyana Chronicle building perched on bicycles with the very “dyed- hair female” in their company. It is suspected that it was this very gang which on two occasions last year, robbed two female Chronicle reporters of cash and their cellular phones quite early in the night as they were making their way home.

By Alex Wayne