Gunmen yesterday stormed the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) customer service centre at Parika, East Bank Essequibo and carted off approximately $800,000 in cash after holding up the staff and a customer.
Commander of Police ‘D’ Division Leslie James last night told Stabroek News that the police are in pursuit of the three men who carried out the robbery.
James said that the men launched their attack at around 12.30pm yesterday. He said the men first went to the security guard and held him up, before holding up a customer and the staff, which comprised the manager, a clerk and a cashier. He added that after carrying out the robbery, the men jumped into a car that was parked outside of the office and fled.
GPL, in a statement yesterday, said the robbers took all revenues received up until that time. The company also noted that the men disarmed the security guard of a gun.
The robbery and a foiled attempt at the company’s Mon Repos Customer Service Centre last week, GPL said, is of “immense concern” and it added that a “robust assessment” of security at its locations is underway.
Over a week ago, the GPL commercial outlet at the Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara Mall was attacked but the bandits were unable to escape with any valuables after learning that the police were approaching and fled while firing shots in the air.
Eyewitnesses said a car pulled up to the building a little after midday and three men rushed out and stormed the building. One eyewitness said that he saw the three men race into the GPL outlet and attack the guard and relieve him of his gun. “They attack he and tek he gun and then they tie he up and had he on the ground and round up all the customers. They know it was due date so them customers woulda been in there with all them bills to pay. They know what de going on,” the eyewitness stated.
No arrests were made in connection to that robbery.
Similar attacks were carried out two weeks ago when gunmen robbed the E-Networks store located at the Mon Repos Mall and then struck the following day at another branch at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara. One person was subsequently charged in connection with the robbery at Cornelia Ida.
