A lone, armed bandit robbed the D&B Sankar Candy Shop of over $1M cash, jewellery and phone cards, just as the owners were about to close their business at around 6.50 pm last evening.
Up to press time, members of the security services were searching nearby areas for the bandit who was injured after he was hit by the proprietor’s car.
Businessman Danny Sankar, called Dan, had left the Lot 12/13 Strand Road premises, in New Amsterdam, Berbice, to go for his car, which was parked a short distance away.
His wife Babita was assisting with the packing of the sales items when the bandit walked up to her and asked, ‘Whey de money deh’.
Initially she thought it was some prank, but realized that it was serious after the gunman fired a shot at a friend who was nearby.
Fortunately, the friend, referred to as ‘Blackie’, was not injured as she ran away from the scene.
Meanwhile, Babita Sankar, jumped upon the nearby table as the bandit demanded the money which was in a box and a bag. Jewellery and phone cards were also carted away.
The woman said the shot fired by the bandit at her missed too. However, she felt a slight burning to her left arm before the man fled into the nearby Chapel Street.
Her husband, Danny, was returning to the shop, when he observed their friend ‘Blackie’ running northward, while the man was running in the opposite direction with the bag in his hand.
“I pursued him in my car. I hit him. He fired a shot. I drove the car and hit him again as he ran through Chapel Street. He remained still. I jumped out the car. He got up fired again and jumped over a fence and escaped…’
The fifty-three-year old Danny Sankar, said, he has been in business since age ten when he sold newspapers in the Berbice County.
“This is the fourth time I get rob. In 2008 I was robbed at Penitentiary Walk, I almost lost my life….There were two other incidents which were minor, but I still lose”, he said.
The businessman told the media that he submitted three applications for a gun licence but was never successful.
Meanwhile, at the scene newly appointed Commander of B Division, Ian Amsterdam, was being apprised by members of the serious crime unit about the robbery.
Investigations are continuing.
