Dear Editor,
It was Sunday around lunch time when it happened. It was sudden, unexpected and swift, leaving the victim, a young woman in a state of disbelief, shock and unease.
I happened to be not far behind, as she headed from Avenue of the Republic to the not so crowded bus park in front of the Demico bus and car park.
An alarm quickly went up. An elderly gentleman in his suit and tie, possibly returning from Church and coming in the opposite direction, on hearing the shouts of ‘thief, thief’ attempted to tackle the young thief, but was mercilessly pushed aside. The young man still clutching the pink handbag torn from the victim’s shoulder together with his cohorts were quickly nabbed by public-spirited citizens in the area. The handbag together with its contents intact was handed over to the dazed young lady who was advised to report the incident. The young lady soon joined a taxi and left the area, probably afraid to report the incident at the police outpost in the area.
Editor, this area is noted for petty thieves who snatch the schoolchildren’s cell phones and run away. Maybe these youngsters are in the employ of criminals who use them to do their dirty work.
Someone once asked me whether there are CCTV cameras installed around the Stabroek Market Square noted for criminal activities, day or night.
How many such criminal acts remain unreported is anybody’s guess. The escalation of crime in the city is indeed troubling. Isn’t it time to have ‘crime advisories’ for persons living and visiting the city of Georgetown which was once regarded as the ‘Garden City’ of the Caribbean?
Yours faithfully,
Khame Sharma