A Number 79 Village cambio dealer was robbed of millions in cash and jewellery early yesterday morning when a gang of 14 men, who were heavily armed including with AK-47s, invaded his home.
Devendra Churaman, 48, also known as ‘Katac,’ of Lot 93 Albert Street, Number 79 Village, Corentyne, was at a loss for words after the 2 am attack, which was the first time he was robbed. “Me can’t able tell you how me feel right now; it’s not an easy situation,” Churaman said.
The men, who were armed with several automatic guns, shotguns and cutlasses, continuously discharged rounds during the attack. While five of them entered the man’s home after breaking the grill on a window with a sledgehammer, neighbours said nine stood guard outside and on the street. They noted that the lookouts continuously fired in an effort to deter residents from going to Churaman’s aid.
Commander of ‘B’ Division Errol Watts told Stabroek News that a total of eight 7.62×39 spent shells, 21 live 7.62×39 rounds of ammunition and two spent 12-gauge cartridges were discovered at the scene. “Based on the live rounds that we found, that alone confirms that it was AK-47s used,” Watts noted. He also revealed that the remains of several squibs were also found. “Fortunately the victim was not shot in this case, but several rounds were fired in the area, which caused persons in the area to be alarmed,” he added.
Although Churaman’s neighbours accused the police of only responding to the reports of the attack over an hour later, Watts denied the claims and noted that he arrived in less than an hour to Churaman’s house and police were already at the scene. He said six members of the force were on duty at the Springlands Police Station at the time of the robbery. “A corporal and five constables and we had four ranks on a patrol that were responsible for 51, 62 and Springlands district,” he noted, while stressing that every effort was being made to arrest the perpetrators.
According to Churaman, he was alerted when he heard the men attempting to break into his house. As a result, he called a policeman from Georgetown, who called back and said “Station na get none police, the patrol na deh.”
He said the men took almost half of an hour to get in and during that time he locked himself inside his room.
However, after the men gained entry into the house, they then used the sledgehammer to break into Churaman’s room. He said the five men who entered his home were each armed with an AK-47, while one also carried a cutlass. “Them get me at gunpoint, them start pull out and tumble up, searching,” he said, while recalling the men demanding cash from him. “Them say that them want cash, them come for cash. Me tell them boy me na really get money and then one rush me up with the cutlass,” he added.
Churaman said after the men fired several shots in the house, he complied with their demands.
The father of two, who was home alone at the time of the robbery, said they didn’t hurt him but held him at gunpoint on the floor during the ordeal.
The men escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash and a total of $1 million in jewellery.
Churaman said it would take him almost a day to ascertain the amount of cash the men stole and noted that he had not yet been able to provide investigators with a figure.
Stabroek News visited the homes of a few neighbours, who related that upon hearing the gunshots, they phoned the Springlands Police Station, which is located some five minutes away.
One neighbour said he called the police seven times and during one call the men fired several shots, which the policeman heard over the phone.
“The first time I call, I get to them right away. Me tell them there is a robbery in 110 Street, the guy name Katac, he well known through the street,” the neighbour recounted. “How must people feel safe? The police station deh right here,” the man pointed out, while claiming that the police took over one hour to arrive at the scene, by which time neighbours had already gone to Churaman’s aid.
Another neighbour, Rena Sookhai, said she heard the men having a conversation between themselves. “One a them say if ‘ayo get everything bai?’ Me na hear no response and them say ‘Alright let’s move it’ and them just start run,” she added.
Another neighbour reported overhearing several of the men asking the others in which direction to run in order to make an escape, giving the impression that some of the perpetrators were not from the area.
Watts yesterday stated that a highly-qualified team of police officers from Georgetown will arrive in the county today to assist with the investigation and help keep the Upper Corentyne area safe throughout the holiday season. “We intend to reinforce the presence at Springlands Police Station with a squad from Georgetown, so as to render support to the police up in this area,” Watts stated.
The Berbice police command was recently shaken up. The APNU+AFC government has faced pressure all across the country over the crime wave. The scale of yesterday’s attack will add to concerns that criminal gangs are continuing to operate with great ease and don’t feel threatened by the police.
