Youths attack minibus, rob passengers
Run off laughing into Buxton
Stabroek News
October 30, 2002
A group of youths set upon a Route 44 minibus yesterday afternoon robbing several passengers of their valuables, before running off into Buxton.
The incident occurred on the railway embankment at Annandale, East Coast Demerara, sometime close to 4 pm while the bus was heading east, towards the village of Buxton.
At the time, police and army ranks were searching a house in the nearby scheme. The youths who committed the robbery were a part of a crowd that had rushed into the Eastville Housing Scheme where the searches were being conducted by the armed ranks.
Shortly after, the youths emerged, spotted the minibus as it was trying to turn back and began urging the driver to proceed.
The driver hesitated and about four or five youths started closing in on the vehicle. While the bus was still across the road, one of the young thieves, who had a large piece of lumber in his hand, ran up to the vehicle and snatched the driver's gold chain from around his neck.
Almost simultaneously, the other youths surrounded the bus. One opened the trunk, another reached through the rear side window and started taking items from the passengers. Several people immediately got out of the bus and started to run in all directions.
One woman was seen sprinting into a nearby yard with her bag tightly clutched in her arms.
Another woman and a teenage schoolgirl turned towards the city and ran. One of the youths took off behind them, chasing them almost the length of the village of Annandale.
Within a minute or two, the band of robbers were seen trotting back from the bus. One carried a black patent leather ladies handbag, another had a pair of black boots.
As they ran off laughing in the direction of Buxton, one of the young men was heard telling the others, "I gat de purse".
Some people who were nearby did nothing. They continued to observe the scene at Eastville Housing Scheme. The bus pulled off and headed in the direction of the city. Along the way, passengers reappeared from the yards they had sought refuge in and rejoined the vehicle. A woman and her nursery school child had apparently fled from the bus and were picked up along the way.
About 10 minutes later, the band of robbers reappeared. One of them still carried the black patent handbag slung across his back.
The bus was later found outside the Vigilance Police Station, where the driver and passengers contemplated whether to report the matter. A policeman finally won them over and the bus was driven into the station compound.
The mother of the teen who was seen sprinting away from the robbers said when she saw the young men approaching, she "just buss de [bus] door and tell me daughter fo run." The visibly shaken teen was still blowing hard. As the child stood in the station compound, tears welled up in her eyes.
According to the woman, "people money get tek away...they [the robbers] gone with a woman slippers, all she money."