By Alva Solomon
Five persons yesterday afternoon robbed the Gizmos and Gadgets AutoZone and electronic store on Regent Road, carting off mobile phones and electronic devices and leaving staff members traumatized.
Several empty boxes which contained mobile phones and other electrical devices left behind by the bandits yesterday.
According to a police release, an investigation has been launched into the robbery which occurred around 2 pm yesterday at the Regent Road store during which two employees were held up and robbed by three men and two women; two of the men were armed with a handgun and a screw driver.
The release stated that the five assailants entered the store under the pretext of purchasing mobile phones when they held up the two representatives who were in the store at the time, taking away an undisclosed number of mobile phones, some $136,000 in cash belonging to the store as well as three mobile phones, a pair of sun glasses and $10,000 in cash, belonging to the two store representatives.
When this newspaper arrived at the store shortly after the robbery yesterday afternoon, police and security officers from the MMC Security Service were at the scene carrying out investigations.
A MMC Security Service vehicle which responded to the robbery yesterday.
According to Amelia Khan, a sales representative at the store, shortly after 2pm yesterday two women entered the store to conduct a transaction at a Money Gram outlet located at the store. She said one of the women approached her with a transaction form, and after examining the document she told the woman that the information on the form was inaccurate, noting that a reference number on the form was invalid.
She said that the women left the store and returned, on that occasion asking the prices of several items which were on display in the store, including mobile phones and car/audio equipment. She said the two women were soon joined by three men.
According to the traumatized woman, soon after, one of the women approached her menacingly with a screw driver in her hand, pushing her into the wall and she soon realized that the quintet were about to carry out a robbery, noting that there were no other customers in the store at the time. She said another employee, Kiron Persaud who was assisting her in the store at the time, was held up by one of the men as the robbers enquired where money was being kept. During this time the intruders placed several mobile phones and phone accessories and electronic devices into a bag.
Strands of hair on a piece of duct tape which was used to gag one of the store representatives during the robbery.
She said the robbers then tied her up with shoe laces and placed pieces of duct tape over her mouth after which she was then forced into a washroom, where she was soon joined by her colleague who, she noted was physically assaulted by the robbers.
Persaud said that one of the men placed a screwdriver to his neck while another brandished a gun as several electrical items from a showcase were being removed by the assailants.
Some 10 to 15 minutes later, Khan said that when she and her workmate observed that the bandits had left, they got out of the washroom and raised an alarm as persons working at nearby places of business came to their assistance.
Owner of the store Ravi Mangar told Stabroek News that yesterday’s incident was the third time the store had suffered at the hands of bandits. When asked whether the store’s security system was working at the time, he answered in the negative, adding that the MMC Security Service, which provides security to the store, were alerted by the store’s staff during the robbery.
Stabroek News understands that the assailants escaped from the scene of the robbery in a gold colored Toyota car, which one eyewitness recalled, was parked close to the store in question.
…Maybe they thought it was GRA coming to inspect again..
“Me is so ha…..” All together now, sing……
Don’t reply on my comments “Reddy’…I don’t reply to yours so don’t say a word to mine…end of story!!!!
SandHurst this sort of hilarious these folks are involved in technology, gadgets, etc. Yet they should have benefited from what they sold. Could they not have electronic security in place in the form of a camera?
the third time and no cameras installed, they will get a fourth chance.
these animals will prey on you until you find ways and means to fight back, be prepared for these crooks at all times.
If the store was robbed previously, why didn’t the owner put a live security on the premises with gun.
I say if was part of an overall plan.
Women robbing with men now! Screw drivers as the new ice pick. Robberies that last 15-20 minutes. What hell is going on in Guyana. Sound like something out the news in America
The ironic part is that the robbery comes a day after Gizmos was investigated by the GRA. Sounds like funny to me
I hear ya…
Ironic indeed! It reminds me of an alleged incident involving a well established auto dealer on the ECD. Days after GRA came down heavily on him and others to pay up, this guy claimed that he was robbed of 14 million dollars on the Railway Embankment Road. Boy I tell you,
dem right fuh seh “stricter the gov’t, wiser the people.”
Me saying the same thing to.
Exactly Rodrick, some people are so stupid. If the man from the East Coast had any sense, he wudda pay off the people in charge and simply walk away clean. Some people just ignorant.
They should install the latest working gadgets to deter the thieves.
They should find ways and means to have more jobs available security systems is not the answer to the real problem…..Jobs Jobs lets get real more jobs less crime simple economic equation.
Stabroek News You don’t have to publish this like the others you did not publish.
I don’t know how this day in age businesses don’t invest in cameras. They of all people should have them.
Najab,
FYI those are not people looking for job and can’t find. that’s their job to take what others have worked for.
What happen to the foot patrols the police normally have….every response to crime is never sustained in Gt. The perpetrators know this and wait patiently for the campaign to end….then the cycle of promises and half measures begin again.
All of us will feel the heat from criminals and an inept police force because the Gov squandered an opportunity for reform from the British .
Sandhurst, I bet they haul away the loot in a black bag too!!!
CALL IN THE GHRA TO INVESTIGATE, MAKE SURE THEY DON`T CATCH THESE PEOPLE AS THE LAW HAS TO PROTECT THEM FROM POLICE TORTURE- BUNCH OF INHUMAN