Three armed bandits posing as customers robbed a businessman at Number 11 Village, West Coast Berbice of a large quantity of phone cards and an undisclosed amount of cash around 11.45 am yesterday.
Reports are that after committing the robbery at Sahadeo’s Variety Store, the bandits escaped in a waiting cream-coloured car. When Stabroek News contacted the police a few hours later they said they were “trailing the vehicle.”
Owner of the store, Jailall Sahadeo, 60 courageously tried to protect his property by wrestling with a bandit who pointed a gun at him, in an effort to disarm him.
However he was forced to relent after the two other bandits came to the rescue of their accomplice and overpowered him.
He recounted that he was alone in the shop when one of the bandits entered and asked to purchase $40 worth of cigarettes.
The man then asked for a “light” and Sahadeo responded that he did not normally allow smoking in his shop. He nevertheless lent the man a lighter which he returned and left the shop.
Shortly after the man who was dressed in a vest and a pair of three-quarter pants returned with two other persons. He stood in front of the store talking on his cellular phone.
In the meantime the two other bandits were looking around. When the other man came off the phone he ordered three bottles of lemonade. As Sahadeo reached in the cold storage for the drink one of the bandits pointed a gun at him.
Instinctively, he pushed him away twice and a struggle ensued as he tried to take the gun away.
By then the other bandits ran to the rescue of their accomplice and pushed Sahadeo away.
He said his wife, Zamirool Sahadeo and a daughter heard the commotion and ran out of the kitchen to investigate. Terrified, they told Sahadeo not to resist the bandits.
They then begged the bandits not to hurt anyone and told them to “take whatever you want.”
The bandits then ordered them into a room but told them not to close the door and the window but Sahadeo did, anyway.
As the men raided the shop and stole the cash and other items, Sahadeo tried to contact ranks from the Fort Wellington Police Station but did not get through.
He said earlier in the day residents saw the three men walking around the area but did not suspect they were bandits.