A gang of five gunmen stormed the home of a Number 45 Village, Corentyne family on Sunday evening and stole about $1 million in cash and jewellery and other valuables after beating and threatening occupants.
Jasmattie Harrichand told Stabroek News that the attack occurred as she was securing her home after receiving a call about bandits being seen in Number 47 Village. However, as she was doing so, her door was violently pulled from her grasp and five men, armed with three guns and two cutlasses, walked into her home, one behind the other.
The woman said her son and a visiting friend rushed to her rescue but the gunmen quickly overpowered them, bound them and placed them to lie face down on the floor. The woman’s son said there was nothing he could do to defend himself as he was gun-butted several times during the assault. The gunmen only stopped assaulting his friend after Harrichand announced that he was a visitor to the home.
The bandits then ordered the woman’s 13-year-old daughter to guide them through the house to the family’s valuables and they seized gold, cash and electronics as they ransacked the bedrooms.
However, they seemed displeased at the loot so Harrichand handed them $350,000. Still displeased, Harrichand said the men then threatened to rape her daughter and she quickly offered to give them the jewellery she was wearing, but they refused the pair of gold earrings and bangles, saying the items were counterfeit.
Instead, the bandits went into the kitchen where they took everything in the refrigerator and pantry. They also escaped with the hearty meal Harrichand had prepared to celebrate her son’s birthday. “The birthday cake and all they carry away, it was just finish baking. All the food!” she said.
The gunmen then took Harrichand’s daughter captive as they made their way out of the home. “They say if they leave us here, we will scream as soon as they leave, but my daughter said we will not scream and suggested that they lock us up in side,” she said. Five minutes after they left, Harrichand and the two young men managed to free themselves. The girl was left outside by the men, who did not act on any of their threats. Harrichand’s husband subsequently arrived home and summoned the police.
Jeweller robbed
Meanwhile, on Sunday along the Yakasari public road, four gunmen robbed Crabwood Creek jeweller Gurupaul Ramphal of approximately $2.5 million in cash and jewellery as he was making his way out of Black Bush Polder, Corentyne.
Ramphal said the masked men, who were also armed with a cutlass, accosted him as he was reversing his car and pointed their weapons at him. They then grabbed his cash and jewellery, locked him in the car trunk and made good their escape on foot through acres of farmlands.
