Three armed bandits carted off approximately $500,000 cash in a daring robbery of a Chinese restaurant at Linden on Wednesday night but their getaway bid ended soon after when public-spirited residents intervened and were supported by police ranks who responded promptly.
The proprietor of Dick’s Chinese Restaurant on Republic Avenue, Mackenzie told Stabroek News that he had closed his business about half hour before the incident occurred. He said that it was approximately 11:30 pm while he and his wife were preparing for bed that they heard a loud sound coming from the back door.
Upon investigation they were confronted by three men believed to be between ages 20–30 years. Two of the men held them at gunpoint and demanded cash. The businessman who refused to reveal his name said that at first he told the men that he had no cash. “But one started to beat me with gun and I tell meh wife to go get money,” he said.
Two of the men were armed with guns but he could not recall if the trio wore masks. He said that the unarmed bandit was earlier seen lurking around the restaurant before it was closed. Shortly after closing he pretended to be going to the toilet located at the side of the building.
Once out of sight the man made his way to the back door which was not secured by grille and he used his bare hands to rip open the door. He was quickly joined by the two gun-toting bandits who terrorized and beat the proprietor before fleeing with the cash.
However the escape bid by the bandits was quickly foiled by a group of men who were on the road at the time and the quick response of the Linden police.
Stabroek News was told by one man who assisted in apprehending one of the bandits that he and a few friends were hanging out at a nearby bar and were about to go home when they noticed the three men running out of the restaurant. He said that they heard the alarm made by the Chinese and decided to give chase. They managed to apprehend one of the men who they dealt a sound thrashing before handing him over to police.
Ranks circled the area and within half an hour they were able to catch the other two. Stabroek News understands that guns were recovered from their person but it was unclear if the cash was recovered. The three are currently in police custody assisting in the investigations.
Last week Thursday two 18-year-old men beat and robbed another Linden businessman of jewellery and cash totalling $880,000 at
gunpoint. The two, Travis Brewster and Winston Hinds, who were accused of the robbery were remanded when they appeared in court.
Another man was also jailed after he staged a daring daylight robbery of the Digicel store on Republic Avenue, Mackenzie. He had subsequently turned himself over to the police.
Several businessmen and residents in Linden commended the Linden police ranks for their swift response to the two recent incidents and urged that the authorities do the same since officers are often criticized.
