Two armed bandits yesterday afternoon invaded a Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD) supermarket and stole $400,000 in cash and phone cards while holding the proprietress at gunpoint.
The incident occurred around 2 pm at RH Supervalue located at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD. At the time of the incident, Proprietress Rehanna Hussain, who usually carries out the duties of the cashier, was the only person present. Her husband Rahaman Hussain was in Georgetown.
Reports reaching Stabroek News revealed that the two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm, entered the supermarket and held Rehanna at gunpoint. They demanded that she hand over the day’s sales and in fear for her life she did. The men also grabbed a quantity of phone cards and made good their escape on a motorcycle.
The ordeal lasted less than five minutes.
Acting Commander of ‘D’ Division Leslie James when contacted for a comment informed Stabroek News that investigators were up to late yesterday afternoon at the scene carrying out investigations. James said that the police have since received some useful information which they are working on with the hope of capturing the suspects.
Rahaman said the incident has left his wife traumatized. He explained that he was in Georgetown transacting business when he received a call informing him what had transpired.
He said based on what he gathered, Rehanna was sitting behind the cash register when the two men approached her and pointed the gun to her head.
The businessman expressed his frustration at the increase in such incidents in the area. “It is a rampant thing here and police not doing anything. They will just come, ask two questions and that’s it,” he said.
He related that earlier this week while he was in the supermarket, two men had also entered and he had become suspicious. “They come like customers. Maybe is the same two. I was behind there but I come out and dealt with them and they went away,” he said, adding that the men might have used that visit to scope out his business.
Meanwhile, an employee of the Hussains, who was in the house performing some chores said that everything occurred so quickly that by the time she was alerted, the men had left.
The police were called and responded promptly.
