Women overpower bandit after $4M robbery

•  two held, cops hunt another

Police have detained two bandits and are searching for a third man who escaped with $4M at around 10:40hrs yesterday, after holding up staffers at the Alleyne's Christian Book Store and Money Transfer Service at North Road, Bourda.

One of the bandits who had a handgun was arrested after three female customers who had visited the store overpowered him as he wrestled with the store-owner's son.

Police said that they retrieved a .32 calibre revolver with six matching rounds from the suspect, who sustained injuries to his face, head and body.

The 24-year-old man, who is from Laing Avenue , subsequently led police to a Greater Georgetown residence where one of his accomplices was hiding. Police said that the third bandit escaped in a grey AT 192 Corona.

The drama began while the store owner, Joy Alleyne, was in the upper flat of the two-storeyed building which houses the book store and the money transfer service.

The lower flat houses a cell phone shop.

At around 10:40hrs, a female customer went to the upper flat, and a female relative of Alleyne's opened the grill door for her when three young men, who were armed with guns, forced their way in.

While one remained with the customer and Alleyne's relative, the other two went into the office to the businesswoman.

Eunice Alleyne said that she was standing by the cash register when she noticed the men walk into the store.

As she was about to approach them, one of the men pulled out a handgun and stuck it to her neck shouting,” Don't mek no noise!”

Mrs. Alleyne said that, being a Christian, she immediately retorted, “The blood of Jesus against you”, to which the man shouted, “Where de money?”

Kaieteur News understands that one of the bandits picked up a black plastic bag containing $50,000 in Barbadian currency from the floor and ran out of the office, followed by his accomplice who had reportedly snatched up a box of cash.

The woman said she raised an alarm.

As fate would have it, while the bandit with the cash-box was descending, the businesswoman's son was climbing the same stairs.

According to reports, Alleyne's son grabbed the fleeing bandit and the two men tumbled down the steps.

“I held onto him and we wrestle at the bottom of the step for the firearm and public-spirited citizens came to the rescue,” the relative said.

At that point, three female customers threw themselves on the hapless bandit, pinning him to the ground to prevent him from using the firearm.

“Dem lady brave. They throw themselves pon he and everybody start to share licks,” a male eyewitness said.

Alleyne's son reportedly borrowed a handcuff from a security guard and secured the bandit until the police arrived.

Onlookers rained blows on the bandit before he was handed over to the police.

Employees retrieved the cash that the bandit had attempted to make off with.

The man's two accomplices escaped in a grey car. One of the other suspects was arrested a few hours later.

Wednesday 09-21-2005