Bandits snatch $7M from Avon agents

Two Beauty and Home System Inc (Avon) employees were yesterday robbed by an armed bandit of almost $7M as they were about to leave the Camp Street office for a city bank.

Police last night said that the armed robbery occurred at about 9am, when Clerk Donald Joseph, 30, and Bond Clerk Gavin McKenzie, 29, were attacked and robbed by a man armed with a gun.
The two employees were about to enter a vehicle to take the money to the bank when the armed man confronted them and held them at gunpoint.

The man then took away two bags containing a total of $6.9 million and escaped on a motorcycle driven by an accomplice.

Efforts made to contact company officials have proved futile.

This is the second time this year the company has been robbed of cash during a bank transfer.

On February 9, an alert policeman witnessed bandits holding up three employees at gunpoint before escaping with $1.3M. The policeman trailed the men while patrols were quickly informed of the incident through the radio network and subsequently ranks of a TSU anti-crime patrol intercepted the getaway car on Cemetery Road, Georgetown.

Further enquiries led to the arrest of two other suspects in a house at Walker Terrace, West La Penitence, where an unlicensed 9 mm pistol with 16 matching rounds and $1 million were recovered by the police.

Joel David, Rondell Tappin and Anthony Warner have since been charged with the robbery.

Following that incident, officials at Avon had expressed belief that the armed robbers were watching the comings and goings at the location before they struck.

Finance Manager Melissa Mars-Toney had said that in light of the incident, security has been boosted and several measures have been put in place to prevent a recurrence. She had also praised the police for their quick response.