Men trashed, hogtied after robbing hotdog vendor

Nov 10, 2019 News

Two men got a sound trashing last Friday night, after they allegedly robbed a hotdog vendor in Cotton Field, Essequibo Coast.

The captured men

According to reports, the incident occurred sometime around 21:00hrs Friday night. The victim, Jonathan Banarsee, usually vends hot dogs along the roadside at Cotton Field, which is a heavily commercialised area.
Banarsee said that two young men, who were both masked, stuck him up with a knife and demanded cash. The man told Kaieteur News that the men told him to lie on the floor, while they carted off some $200,000.
There seems to be conflicting reports, however, as to how the men were apprehended. One source said that the men were apprehended after being spotted in a red Toyota Carina 212, sometime after the robbery.
When Banarsee spoke with this publication, however, he said that immediately after the men fled the scene, he sounded an alarm, which alerted persons who were just outside a nearby store. He added that he later pointed out his attackers and the trashing commenced.
Videos that soon circulated on social media show the two men tied up by residents. One of them appears to be so badly beaten that he was at the point of near unconsciousness. Interestingly, when asked if he had recovered his money from the alleged bandits, the man said no.

The red Toyota 212 that was impounded

Kaieteur News understands that no mask or knife was found on the beaten individuals. Banarsee went on to say that he reported the matter to the police, and left for home.
Though the identity of the two young men has not yet been revealed, police did indicate that they are in custody. A senior police source went on to say, however, that there is no shred of evidence, which ties the two men to the crime.
The red Toyota car, which bears licence number HB 7925, has been impounded, and investigations are ongoing.