Businessmen, commander discuss spike in armed robberies at Vreed-en-Hoop

Sep 28, 2016 News

Concerned about the rise in armed robberies in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara (WCD), a number of businessmen and residents organized a forum yesterday with the Commander of the Division to discuss plans to address the situation.
Over the past few weeks, there have been approximately 20 armed robberies reported in the area, resulting in some entrepreneurs considering closing their businesses.
The frustration forced the businessmen to seek a meeting with acting Divisional Commander, Leslie James, to address key issues since they claimed that the police have not been doing a good job in the area.
In fact, they accused the police of doing nothing.
One businessman, who was a robbery victim, said that when the police visited his home the first time, they promised to return but never did.

The gathering yesterday

He subsequently called the police to inform them that he spotted one of his robbers in the village but had not been contacted since. James yesterday indicated that ranks were indeed looking into the incident.
One of the businessmen said that the robberies seemed to have spiraled out of control when James took the helm of ‘D’ Division on September 1, last after Stephan Mansell proceeded on his annual leave.
James acknowledged that there has indeed been an increase in robberies but this will soon come to an end, he said.
He told the gathering that what has been happening is a sad affair and one of serious concern. The reason for bandits targeting the Vreed-en-Hoop area will have to be determined, he said.
“I am here not to do anything but policing. I am not here to make friends but to be a professional police officer,” James said.
According to the acting Divisional Commander, the robberies seemed to be organized and there might be at least two gangs of persons involved.
He urged the businessmen to take steps in protecting their businesses such as hiring a guard or installing surveillance cameras.
On the part of the police, he said that there will be an increase in foot, motorcycle and vehicular patrols during the night and day in the area.
However, things got a bit heated when one businessman indicated that despite the patrols, two robberies occurred just before the press conference yesterday—one in Crane and another at Vreed-en-Hoop which would mean that whatever plan the police had put in place, was a waste of time.
In response to this comment, James indicated that the patrol was recently set up and everything takes time.
He also said that he and senior ranks were up to late Monday discussing a system to tackle the situation.
While he refused to divulge the other plans to prevent it from reaching back to the suspects, he said that he will discuss it with the businessmen in private.

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