Two constables who were held in connection with the robbery of 18 stalls at the New Amsterdam market may be charged with neglect of duties.
The vendors suffered millions of dollars in losses about three weeks ago. They were angry that the constables who were on duty were not alerted, despite the apparent noise by the bandits to break open the locks.
A police source told this newspaper that investigations are still ongoing and that it is not likely that the constables would be charged with theft.
Police have searched the homes of the constables and have not found any of the stolen items. Apart from the constables, no other arrests have been made.
Stabroek News had been told that the two constables were arrested after security guards from a nearby supermarket reported that they heard sounds of pounding coming from the market.
The bandits gained entry by ripping open a rotten section of the metal door at back of the market. They broke into Bobby’s Jewellery Establishment and removed his tools, which they then used to pound some of the locks from other stalls open. They left the tools behind.
Some of the victims learnt about the break-in when they arrived to open their stalls for business that morning, while others found out through telephone calls from other vendors.
They had blasted the municipality for poor security and said the market has over 20 constables during the day but at night only two would work, including females.
They said the constables would be at the “front of the market during the night but they need to walk around often… More guards should be placed at the back door too.”
