Armed bandits hit another supermarket, this time at Cornelia Ida – one suspect nabbed

Another supermarket was targeted by bandits last evening, this time at the Cornelia Ida (C.I.), West Coast Demerara,  when its owner was in the process of locking up his establishment after a day’s business.

Reports are that around 19:00hrs last evening, 39-year-old Alam Hussain was attacked by three men, one of whom was wielding a firearm. The businessman said he was held at gunpoint and the bandits stole his laptop computer along with $4,000 cash which Hussain had on his person. They then fled the scene of the crime as the traumatised businessman notified others in the area, and the police, who arrived promptly at the supermarket moments after the robbery was executed.

However, due to quick action, ranks were able to track down one of the bandits who had boarded a mini-bus in the C.I village and arrest him.

The suspect is presently in police custody and is said to be assisting with investigations.

Hussain told INews today that he had never seen the three bandits before and to identify the other two men who are yet to be apprehended would prove difficult.

“They had on hats, all three of them, but the two the police have to catch had their hats on in a way you can barely see their faces. They catch a minibus and come here and I guess that is how they leave by catching minibus. My supermarket has a security camera and when the police come they took the footage and run it and were able to make out the man they have arrested but the other two covered their heads with the hats so their faces aren’t too clear,” the businessman stated.

He praised the police ranks for the quick response last night and for being able to already nab one of the perpetrators.

“The police came within five minutes and traced them. They were really quick and managed to catch one of them so I thank them. Someone in the village here at C.I. also called me today to tell me how they find my laptop on the road at the other side of our scheme so they bringing it back for me,” Hussain also noted.

Meanwhile, in a separate robbery, the proprietors of Flamboyant Supermarket are counting their losses after thieves broke into their establishment and carted away hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in items.

Reports are that thieves broke into the supermarket at about 01:00hrs on Monday and stole 52 cylinders of gas from the business which is located at 3rd Avenue, Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. The items were valued at $560,000. (Kristen Macklingam)