Caretaker foils attempted robbery at Islamic school

An alert caretaker at the ISA Islamic School at East Street, Georgetown helped to avert a robbery around 3 am yesterday and recovered a number of items that were already stashed in several bags.

Kenneth ‘Abu’ Richmond, 35, told Stabroek News that the bandit attempted to cart off a flat screen (desktop) computer system, a tape recorder, books and stationery.

It is suspected that the man had already stolen a laptop computer, a camera and a small amount of cash belonging to a teacher.
Richmond told this newspaper that the two watchmen on duty were fast asleep. They were only aware of the robbery when he woke them.
He made a report at the Alberttown Police Station around 6 am and an officer took a statement and said “it was a matter for the CID” – Criminal Investigation Department.

Some of the items packed up by the bandit
Some of the items packed up by the bandit

The officer called a detective on his phone and he promised to visit the school at 10 am to conduct an investigation. But a few hours later the detective had still not shown up.

The man gained access to the school through “the fire escape step at the back…”
Richmond recalled that he was asleep in a room in the building and was awakened by noise coming from the right side fence.
He looked out and saw a man trying to scale the fence with a   big bag. He shouted and the man dropped the bag and made good his escape.
He ran down to investigate and noticed that a storeroom in one of the nursery classes had been broken into and ransacked and items were scattered on the floor.

He also checked other parts of the building and observed that the computer in the male staff room on the third floor was missing.
Richmond said the bandit also had a few more bags at the side of the fence and some at the front of the building that he was apparently planning to return for.

He recalled that three years ago a bandit broke into the building and stole a quantity of items, including computers and stationery.
Police had visited and taken fingerprints but no arrest was made.