BANDITS torched their way into Hardware Emporium and General Store, located on Church Street, Georgetown carting off a safe, supplies and an undisclosed amount of valuables.This newspaper understands that the perpetrators gained access from the rear of the building by torching a hole into a metal gate in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

They reportedly scaled a fence that separates the former Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) building and the store. Police said the robbers, who appeared to have some knowledge of the building and its security features, disabled the alarm and power to the building.

This resulted in the loss of CCTV camera feed and the backup generator was also bypassed. One employee noted that the break in seemed very suspicious since a new security system was recently installed.

Police said the matter is being investigated.