A Bourda Market grocer lost more that $1 million in cash and beverages in a burglary that left him yesterday questioning the response of the police force and the city constabulary.
A distraught Goolmohamed Rahaman, the owner of the G Rahaman Bacchus wholesale and retail outlet, told Stabroek News that the incident was the latest in a series robberies and breakages he has suffered since he opened his business 10 years ago.
Rahaman, speaking in front of his stall yesterday, said that around 6 am a city constable, whom he referred to as the market security, called him and informed him of the break-in at his stall. Rahaman said that when he arrived at the location, he was shocked by what he saw. The burglars, he said, apparently used a sledgehammer to make a huge hole at the front of the stall. Persons at the area yesterday expressed shock at the size of hole and noted that the perpetrators would have made enough noise for passers-by to hear.
According to Rahaman, the perpetrators removed ten cases of Red Bull, nine cases of chicken cubes and eight cases of tinned sausage, all together valued $227,000. The robbers also took $800,000 from a bucket.
The cash, Rahaman explained, represented sales from the previous day and money that was to be used to pay his four employees.
The man said that he went to the Alberttown Police Station to make a report but was told to return. When he did so, he was told that the police would visit but after several hours elapsed there was no sign of them. The frustrated Rahaman said that he returned to the station around noon and transported a detective to his stall, since he could not leave the business in the condition it was in after the burglary. Rahaman said that the rank took a statement and on leaving promised that someone would visit in half an hour to dust for fingerprints. At nightfall yesterday, the businessman was still at his store waiting on the promised return visit by the police. He was forced to close the hole. “Ah patching de whole right now because it gon be night just now. They (the police) nah care bout me. Is three times I went to the station to report this matter,” the upset businessman said.
Rahaman noted that as recent as last week attempts were made to break into his stall. He said that unknown persons tried to break in from the roof but several wooden boards hampered them and they had to abandon their efforts. Pointing to the roof of the stall, he said that he was forced to replace several zinc sheets that were damaged as a result of the attempted breakage. Rahaman said he was frustrated, particularly since his rent is supposed to cover security. He said that following yesterday’s break-in, he inquired about the security and was told that constabulary ranks “didn’t come and check by my stand.” He said, “This thing happening steady and I am very upset about what has happened to me.”
Stabroek News was unable to reach Chief City Constable Andrew Foo for a comment.
For Rahaman, the burglary only adds to the losses his family has experienced recently and a poor experience with police. He said that two Saturdays ago, his wife and daughter-in-law were held at gunpoint and robbed of more that $2 million in cash and jewellery at his wholesale store, G Bacchus Enterprise, located at the former MFK Trading building at Hadfield Street. He said that he had closed the business for the day when two men, both armed with guns, walked up. According to Rahaman, the gunmen pointed their weapons at the women and demanded that they hand over the bags they had in their possession. He said that the women complied without hesitation, after which the gunmen fled on foot. Rahaman said the bags contained about $300,000 in cash and $2 million dollars in jewellery, which they had collected from a city jeweller, where it was taken to be cleaned. The businessman said that immediately after the incident he called 911 and the rank that answered assured him that the police would be would be there. No rank showed up and he again called 911 and was again assured by the person on the other end that they would be there. According to Rahaman, the police showed up about three quarters of an hour after the incident occurred. “But what sense dat mek? By then they din dun gone,” he said.
