Bandits yesterday staged a daring robbery of the Bank of Baroda branch located at the bottom flat of a Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara mall, carting off an undisclosed amount of cash and a gun belonging to the security guard.
In a statement, police said that the robbery occurred at about 12.50pm yesterday.
The police reported that four men, one of whom was armed with a gun, entered the bank and held up the lone female private security guard on duty and took away her .32 service revolver. No one was hurt.
During the attack, which lasted for about five minutes, the men then held up the two female tellers and took away an undisclosed amount of cash and escaped in a waiting silver grey/off white Premio car bearing false registration plate PNN 8984.
The statement said that law enforcement agents quickly responded to the report and established strategic road blocks and alerted anti-crime patrols. Crime Intelligence Units have also been activated.
Up to last night, there were no reports of anyone being caught.
Stabroek News understands that the attack was captured on CCTV cameras which monitor the building.
The Mon Repos branch of the India-headquartered bank is located on the lower flat of a mini shopping mall just behind the village’s market. The mall also houses other stores.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Stabroek News that ranks responded promptly after receiving a report of armed robbery at the bank and established road blocks.
He added that investigators are currently looking for the off-white Premio bearing the false number plate- PNN 8984 and they are also reviewing CCTV footage.
When Stabroek News visited the scene, ranks were present carrying out investigations and taking fingerprints. Villagers, many of whom also operate businesses in the vicinity, were tightlipped about the robbery.
One businessman recalled seeing the car circling the area before the robbery. He said the men escaped in the waiting car, which was parked along the street and it was driven by a fifth person.
