Five armed bandits escaped with a quantity of gold jewellery and an undisclosed amount of cash following a daring robbery around midday yesterday at a De Willem, West Coast Demerara goldsmith’s workshop and home.
The bandits gun-butted and cuffed goldsmith Dhanraj Patram, 46, about his head and face and then duct taped his mouth and hands.
They then held him at gun-point and took him through an inner stairway to the upper flat where his wife, mother and sister were. Once there they also duct-taped the women’s mouths and hands and placed all of them to lie face down on the ground. Patram said he tried to get up but the bandits kicked him. They also ripped out the tape from the security camera and threw the monitor down.
The workshop, which has an iron door, is usually kept locked but the bandits apparently timed Patram’s brother-in-law, who would normally open the door to go and pick up his 10-year-old nephew (Patram’s son) from school.
While two of the bandits were upstairs, they received a call from their three accomplices who were waiting downstairs, that the child had arrived home from school.
They then duct taped his mouth as well and forced him to show them where the money and jewellery were kept. They ransacked the bedrooms and stole the jewellery and cash, including US$1,200.
The bandits then escaped in two cars, but the family was only able to get the number of one, a silver-grey Toyota Premio, PTT 4876, which they believe to be fake.
Patram recalled that he was relaxing in a hammock near his workshop when two of the bandits, posing as customers, entered. They showed him a gold chain and claimed that they wanted to “melt it and make a ring and a band.”
While the others engaged him, one of the men hurried out of the workshop and returned with the gun, which he placed to Patram’s head. He ordered him “keep quiet” and to hand over the money and jewellery before taking him upstairs.
The police from the Leonora Station are investigating.
