An unmasked man armed with a knife and a handgun robbed a sales girl of Anew Essentials in the Court Yard Mall yesterday of a quantity of cash, jewellery and a laptop computer before locking the woman in the store and escaping.
Moments later several armed police ranks arrived on the scene and conducted their investigations. They left about 15 minutes later.
When Stabroek News visited the recently opened store which sells costume jewellery, clothing, bags and shoes, the salesgirl was in tears.
From all appearances, the bandit was monitoring the operations in the store because he struck during a third visit to the establishment within a 15-minute period.
The young woman recounted that shortly before 11am, the man came into the store and enquired about magnetic earrings. She said that she told him that they were not sold there and he left.
Minutes later he came back and asked her if she was sure the store didn’t sell magnetic earrings.
“He then tell me that he wants two earrings and he give me a $1000. I give him the change and he turned to leave but when he reach the door he turn back and said that he forgot that he wanted two chains, one for himself and the other for his girlfriend.” she said.
The woman told this newspaper that while she was getting change to give to the man, he snatched her by her top and pulled out a knife. A gun was also at his waist she said.
The man pushed her under the table she was sitting at and instructed her not to scream.
She said that the man got away with her engagement and wedding rings as well as a laptop that was under the table.
The woman related that when the gunman saw the black laptop bag he asked her what was inside and when she said she did not know, he told her, “Like you want people kill you.”
The bag which was left there by the owner of the store apparently contained a laptop computer and some cash. The man also made off with money representing sales for yesterday and the day before. The total was just over $40,000.
After collecting the valuables, the man picked up the store keys and locked the woman inside. The bunch was left hanging in the door.
She told this newspaper that after the man left she pressed the panic button and also managed to contact someone from a nearby store.
Police are continuing their investigations.
