Bus waylaid at Buxton
Stabroek News
April 3, 2003
Bandits hijacked a minibus passing through Buxton early yesterday morning and fleeced the bus’ operators and passengers of local and foreign currencies, gold jewellery and other valuables before escaping into the village.
Reports reaching Stabroek News state that the vehicle stopped at Company Road, Buxton shortly after 6 am to pick up a woman when three armed men emerged and entered the vehicle. The bandits then ordered the bus driver to turn into Company Road and stop just before reaching the embankment.
Sources told this newspaper that the driver of BGG 3514 was robbed of $13,000, while his conductor was stripped of his wallet, which contained $3,000 guilders, $1,500 and TT$5. The bandits also took away his five-pennyweight gold wedding band, his bank card and an identification card.
A female passenger was robbed of a six-pennyweight gold chain and three gold rings. Another man was fleeced of $8,000 and his cellular phone.
Reports state that someone nearby alerted the Guyana Defence Force patrol, which was at neighbouring Friendship at the time. Sources said the patrol responded immediately and saw a female passenger being robbed.
Stabroek News understands that one member of the patrol discharged a round in the air and the bandits ran off. The bus and passengers were then escorted to the Vigilance Police Station, where a report was lodged.
A police source told this newspaper that the bus was making a routine stop for the woman when it was intercepted.
“It normally stops at Company Road to pick up the woman,” an officer stated. He added that a total of $25,000 was looted from the occupants of the bus, as well as a large quantity of gold jewellery for which the value has not yet been ascertained. (Kim Lucas)
