The use of motorcycles in the commission of serious crimes, including executions and armed robberies, has been on the rise recently, but the numbers are not alarming to the police.
“This is insignificant when compared to the total of serious crimes committed,” Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News recently, while noting that for the first half of the year, there have been 23 cases of motorcycles being used in crimes.
Criminals have been using motorcycles as a mode of transportation over the years, particularly in Georgetown, he said, noting that they are used mainly in gun-related crimes and some occur when an opportunity presents itself; meaning the crime is not planned.
According to Persaud, the police force has found that bicycles seem to be becoming the most widely used means of transportation by criminals, in particular those committing robberies.
He said that there have been several cases where criminals who used motorbikes have been incarcerated and when they “come out” they look for the easiest means of moving around—the bicycle.
A security source, meanwhile, said that the majority of criminals just want a “bike” to aid their activities, while pointing out that in previous years most criminals used cars and at the time there were “a couple of motorcycle robberies.”
The source said that most of the motorcycles used by criminals are being acquired illegally from Brazil. A lot of motorcycles are stolen from various parts of Brazil using various systems before being later transferred to Rupununi. It was noted that some are intercepted there, while others are transported to Georgetown, where they are sold.
The source said it might be the case that these are the motorcycles that the bandits are acquiring. The source could not say if a similar issue is occurring in Suriname or French Guiana. It was noted that once the motorcycles reach the city, they can either be sold in parts or “as is” and there is no registration process.
No link
Some observers believe that a group of motorcycle bandits might be moving around the city committing crimes and may also be hired guns for execution-style attacks. There were two such attacks in June and in August, with the former being successful, while in the latter case two men were held and charged.
On June 15, Pest Control Plus Director Mohammed Baksh was fatally shot by two men who walked to the table he was sitting at with friends at a Thomas Street restaurant. After shooting Baksh, the gunmen fled the scene on motorcycles.
Baksh, who sustained two gunshot wounds, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) but died hours after while being prepared for emergency surgery.
On August 18, at Waterloo Street, Kevin Singh was sitting with other men when he was also targeted by three men on motorcycles, which bore no number plates. One of the men discharged several rounds at Singh, before they made their escape on the bikes.
Plain clothes ranks on a mobile patrol in the area gave chase behind the bikes and during efforts to apprehend the perpetrators Joseph Barker was shot to his left thigh and hip at Fifth Street, Alberttown. A second suspect, who was later identified as Keron Taylor, was also arrested and one of the motorcycles was impounded. The third suspect managed to escape.
Barker was admitted under guard at the Georgetown Hospital. Four days later he and his alleged accomplice were charged with the attempted murder of Singh. They will make their second court appearance on October 1.
A senior policeman had told Stabroek News following the attempted execution of Singh, which occurred on Waterloo Street, that there was a suspicion that both incidents were committed by the same persons.
The senior rank had indicated that the perpetrators might have been gunmen-for-hire but there was not enough evidence to make a connection.
Persaud told Stabroek News that investigators found no link between the attacks, both of which were allegedly committed by a pair of gunmen on motorcycles.
