Bandits cart off millions from Grove hardware store

Nov 23, 2010 News

… Business couple robbed for fourth time

Using a rope to gain access to the roof, then breaking several louver panes, three armed bandits robbed and terrorised a Grove East Bank Demerara business couple for the fourth time in as many years.
The family owns and operates the F&L Hardware in the lower flat of the house. Lelia Hilton, one of the occupants of the home, yesterday told Kaieteur News that they were awakened around 2:00hrs when the bandits were already inside the house.
Two of the bandits had firearms, while the third had a long knife.

One of the ransacked bedrooms.

The woman said that the men quickly began ransacking the house for valuables. Kaieteur News was told that the woman and a male relative were taken downstairs into the hardware store.
While downstairs, Kaieteur News was told that the bandits removed money from the cash register. The two persons were again taken back upstairs and tied up.
The woman further told this publication that the men began searching the bedrooms, even though they continued telling them (bandits) that they had no money in the house.
They managed to cart off a wedding ring and some other jewellery.
In the height of the confusion one of the bandits realised that the surveillance camera was recording the entire robbery, and quickly removed the recording.
Not feeling satisfied, the bandits then began loading up a Canter truck which was parked in the drive way.
“They started packing paints…and other hardware stuff on the truck,” the occupant explained.
Kaieteur News was told that the plan was thwarted because an alarm was raised by one of the occupants.
“After we hear they packing up the truck I managed to untie myself and quickly ran out on the veranda and raised an alarm,” the woman explained.
Neighbours who heard the screams quickly called the police, who according to the occupants arrived promptly.
This newspaper understands that the family business was robbed twice when it was located at Saffon Street, Charlestown, and twice when it relocated to Grove, East Bank Demerara.
No one has been arrested and the police are still continuing their investigations.