Bandits yesterday robbed an E-Networks store, its staff and customers at Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and both the company’s management and police believe that the perpetrators are the same persons who carried out a similar attack at another branch less than 24 hours before.
According to a police statement, the attack occurred at about 11.45 am when two men, armed with handguns, entered the E-Networks store and robbed the two cashiers and seven customers of their valuables. They then fled the scene in a car.
Police said the suspects acted in the same way as those who robbed the company’s store at Mon Repos Mall, East Coast Demerara, on Wednesday.
A source close to the company told Stabroek News that the events of yesterday’s robbery were similar to those of Wednesday’s attack.
He stated that after the men entered the store, they ordered the staff and customers to lie on the floor, then tied their hands and proceeded to ransack the place.
He went on to say the men escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash from the day’s transactions though he noted that it was not a significant amount.
Stabroek News was told that the bandits also searched the pockets of the customers and stole their valuables.
The source pointed out that management was once again caught by surprise as a second store was robbed within a day.
He told Stabroek News when they received the message of the second robbery, management was about to convene a meeting to discuss how they would be beefing up security at the company’s branches.
Touching on Wednesday’s robbery, the source explained that while the company does not know the amount of cash stolen, it is believed that the men would have escaped with a few hundred thousand dollars.
The source also stated that the men also removed a DVR and router from the building.
Stabroek News had reported that at approximately 3 pm, the bandits invaded the store, which is located in the lower flat of a mall, and held five persons, including two sales representatives, at gunpoint. The bandits, one of whom was armed with a shotgun, made good their escape in a silver Toyota Premio motor car, HC 2667.
No one was injured nor was any shot fired in either attack.
