Gunmen rob Sridat Service Station at Vreed-en-Hoop

Police release. Two suspects have been arrested as Police continue investigations into an alleged Robbery Under Arms (RUA) committed on 50-year-old Ganga Deo Sridat, a businessman and owner of Sridat Service Station located at New Road Vreed-En-Hoop and 35 year-old Jermain Maxwell, a pump attendant working at the said gas station.

Allegedly stolen are one 9mm Smith and Wesson pistol with one magazine containing fifteen live matching Ammo, one driver’s license and National ID card belonging to the owner and an undisclosed amount of cash — property of the owner of the gas station. The incident occurred about 22:30 hrs on 2022-12-26 when four masked and armed men attacked the gas station.

Enquiries disclosed that the owner came to the location in a motor car and parked on the eastern side in the gas station.

While exiting his car, two armed masked males approached him, one of whom hit him with an object to his head which he believed to be a firearm and asked him for the money and his (businessman) firearm.

Sridat stated that he does not have either, just then the other suspect conducted a search on his person and took away his firearm from his waist and his wallet from his pants pocket.

Further, they told the victim to open the door to the gas station shop which he did and they took him into the shop. He was asked for the keys to the safe, and the victim told them that the keys were outside in the guard hut. One of the suspects went and got the keys and opened the safe and took a quantity of cash, after which they tied up the businessman.

According to victim number two (Jermain Maxwell), he is employed at the gas station as a pump attendant. He saw his boss arrive after which he heard him screaming. He ran West of the Gas Station and was confronted by two armed masked males, one had an object which he believed to be a firearm in his hand. The pump attendant was relieved of an undisclosed amount of cash along with his car key and was taken in the shop where he was beaten as he saw his boss lying on the ground. The gunmen later escaped in the pump attendant’s car.

The matter was later reported to the police on 2022-12-26 and the victims were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where they were examined by doctors on duty.

Police have since arrested two suspects, both of whom have confessed to the crime. Also, the firearm stolen from the businessman was recovered by the Police.

Investigations are ongoing.