Two masked bandits wearing hoodies and armed with a gun robbed a Chinese Supermarket, Tanyuan Meng, situated at 13th Street Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara last Friday night. Their victims included the proprietor, three Chinese nationals, the security guard, and three customers. There were no injuries during the execution of the robbery.
Phillip Gomes, the security guard of CMC Reliable Security and attached to the supermarket, related to Stabroek News that the robbery occurred at around 20:15 hrs. Gomes said at that time he was conducting his security checks at the rear of the supermarket. He said he did not detect any alarms from the proprietor nor customers. As he approached the front of the supermarket, he heard a voice saying, “pass what you have, or else I would shoot you.” Gomes said he came face-to-face with the armed robber. Gomes said the bandit, who wore plaited, covered with a cap and a red hoodie, approached him with gun in hand and relieved him of $40,000, his driver’s license, National Identification Card and bank card.
Gomes said that in the aftermath he learnt that the bandits had already robbed the three Chinese’s nationals and the supermarket of between $200,000 and $300,000 dollars. The proprietor was robbed of a phone and $70,000 cash. The other victims included a police sergeant in uniform and attached to the traffic department. The officer was robbed of his cellphone. Two female customers were searched, one was robbed by the bandit of an I-phone valued in excess of $100,000 and a purse which contained valuables. The other female managed to rid herself of her purse by throwing it into the groceries before the bandit got to her. An elderly man, even before entering the supermarket, was grabbed by one of the bandits, hauled into the supermarket and relieved of his phone.
The porter, according to Gomes, luckily escaped becoming the fourth victim as he sought refuge outside the supermarket and hid himself during the robbery. Immediately after the bandits made good their escape, the police officer visited the Diamond Police Station, eventually returning with police ranks, who immediately commenced their investigations. Gomes added that the ranks have indicated that no leads have turned up. Gomes also informed Stabroek News that he is not looking forward for compensation from his employers but believes timely checks should be implemented to verify the safety and wellbeing of their staff.
