A SECURITY guard, who impersonated a Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officer while trying to kidnap a coconut vendor on Wednesday, was arrested by alert police ranks.
Reports indicate the 26-year-old market vendor was on Robb Street, between Alexander and Bourda Streets, Georgetown when the 37-year-old security guard of Haslington, East Coast Demerara approached him while he was gathering coconut to sell.
The security guard was, at the time, driving a white Toyota Premio motorcar and called out to the vendor who walked over to the left side passenger door.
There, the security guard told the vendor that he was a CANU officer and he picked up a handcuff from within his care and attempted to grab the man by his jersey.

The vendor then threw himself onto the roadway and ran away. Police ranks on duty in the area were alerted to the incident and managed to apprehend the suspect after a brief chase.
Police arrested the security guard and a search was carried out on his person and a handcuff was found in his pants pocket.
“The men tell the police he is a CANU officer and the police just look at he and arrest he,” one eyewitness said.
Subsequently, the vendor visited the Albertown Police Station to make a report and pointed out the perpetrator who was sitting on the police bench as the man who tried to kidnap him.
The security guard remains in custody as investigations continue.
Information suggests that the perpetrator is known for his kidnapping activities. Other persons are expected to provide police with statements about similar incidents.