A Vigilance North, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman who was robbed of a substantial amount of cash and his firearm on Saturday night is calling on the police to investigate a recent spate of robberies in which market vendors have been targeted.
According to the police, businessman, Albadar (only name given), 47, and his reputed wife Reshma Bisnauth were confronted by two men armed with handguns soon after they arrived home in their motor vehicle around 7 pm.
The couple was held at gunpoint and the intruders took away Albadar’s licensed .32 pistol along with four mobile phones and $1.3M. The men escaped on foot.
Albadar, who operates a stall in the Stabroek Market in the city, told this newspaper that he believes the two men may have trailed him and his wife soon after he left his business place on Saturday afternoon. He said, ”I just pull up in front the house and soon as I put my foot outside these two chaps come up and put guns to my head”.
He said one of the men made the demands while his accomplice kept watch and according to him, two workers who were sitting at the back of the van at the time were forced to lie on the ground in front of his gate as the two gunmen robbed them of their valuables.
He recalled that as he approached his home, he saw the two men standing on the corner and he subsequently observed the men walking behind a young woman who was also heading in the same direction as he was at the time.
He said after the robbery, the men calmly headed west out of the street where persons recalled them boarding a car.
According to Albadar, the stall which he operates is located obliquely opposite a stall which is owned by the late Frank Persaud, a Bel Air Village businessman who was killed during a robbery at his home on the evening of July 31.
Albadar said that from all appearances, the bandits may have been staking out businesses in the market. ”Frank family been here this morning and they ask me about the robbery and so…and we believe something happening here because Frank stall deh opposite me“, Albadar said.
This newspaper understands that a Republic Park businessman, who also operates a stall in the Stabroek Market in the vicinity of Persaud’s business, was robbed last week by two men on a motorcycle.
According to the police, investigations into Saturday evening’s robbery are in progress.
