Stallholders at the Lethem Public Market are counting their losses after the building which houses the market was broken into on Tuesday evening.
Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday, newly appointed Town Clerk Keisha Vincent, having received a phone call from the Mayor, Carlton Beckles informing her of the incident, made her way to the market to investigate.
While there, Vincent said she was able to speak with several affected stallholders, all of whom were shocked at what had occurred.
She went on to say that from all indications, the bandit (s), would have gained entry through the roof of the building, after which they proceeded to break into and ransack several stalls.
Stolen items included cosmetics, groceries, watches, gas bottles and a laptop.
A police report was made and statements were given by both the Town Clerk and the affected stallholders.
Fortunately for some stallholders, ranks from the Lethem Police station, with the assistance of some town councillors and two stallholders, conducted a search of the market’s immediate environs which led them to a “busy area” behind the market.
A search of that area unearthed two plastic containers containing a quantity of merchandise which was positively identified as coming from various stalls in the market; the search party was also able to recover additional items from another location a short distance away from the first discovery.
Vincent went on to note that though this is the first time such an incident has occurred since Lethem obtained its Township status, there are reports of break-ins at the Market on two prior occasions.
As a result, she said the Municipality will be putting measures in place with the hope of preventing a recurrence of Tuesday night’s incident.
In the meantime, ranks from the Lethem Police Station are said to be investigating the matter.
