Armed bandits on Wednesday night attacked the Western Union outlet at Church Street, escaping with $10 million in cash, but police later recovered a major portion of the money and arrested seven people, including an employee fingered as the mastermind.
Up to press time last evening, the female employee, who only began working at the outlet as a customer services representative in August, was in custody assisting the police with the investigation.
The police, in a press release yesterday, said the armed robbery occurred around 9:45pm at the money transfer location.
Investigations have revealed that employees Maria Pires, 20, and Samantha Adonis, 32, were in the business place when they were held up by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, the police said, adding that the perpetrators then took away $10 million along with the victims’ cell phones and escaped on a motorcycle.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud confirmed to Stabroek News that seven persons were detained, including the female employee. He said further that police recovered close to $7 million, after searching two Georgetown addresses. He did not identify the places where the money was found or how the persons in custody came to be detained.
Persaud said that from all appearances there was collusion between an employee and the criminals.
The Western Union outlet was open for business yesterday.
A source close to the employee in police custody said that at no point did she give any indication that she was planning a robbery. The source said that based on what was gathered, the detained employee was leaving the premises when she was stuck up at the front door by the bandits.
Some time ago, a general store was opened in the front section of the building. The Western Union outlet is situated at the back.
It was explained to Stabroek News that one has to first enter the door at the front of the building then two more to get into the money transfer office.
The source told this newspaper that the men forced the woman to the first door, which was apparently left open. They then proceeded to the office door.
The accountant, who was inside balancing the accounts, looked through a peep hole in the door and on seeing the employee, the source said, opened the door.
The accountant was held at gunpoint while the detained employee was pushed to the floor.
The men took a total $4.7 million from the day’s business and $6 million which represented money from the previous day.
They then fled.
The source said the women were not physically hurt but the accountant was very traumatized.
Following the incident, both women went to the police and reported the matter.
Stabroek News understands that investigators became suspicious of the detained employee after she gave conflicting accounts of what transpired.
