Following the multi-million dollar robbery at Muneshwer's Hardware Store on Saturday morning bandits broke into Giftland Office Max just down the road early yesterday morning and spirited away several computers worth millions of dollars.

Chief Executive Officer of Giftland, Ian Ramdeo, told Stabroek News that the burglars gained entry into the building by dismantling a section of the concrete wall at the back. He said the attack occurred some time around 2 am and 3 am.

UNSOLVED crime

The CEO said the bandits showed some level of desperation as the concrete wall is very thick. He said once the wall was broken, the men gained entry to the top flat of the building, which houses the office and also the electronic section of the store. Ramdeo said at least three laptop computers were stolen as well as several DVD players and other computers. He said that the burglars also poured drink on some of the other computers damaging them. They also grabbed several other small electronic items. He believes the bandits used the Demerara River as the entry and exit route.

Ramdeo said the security guard was in front of the building and did not know of the robbery until after the men had escaped. Ramdeo said MMC Security which provides a quick response service to the store responded, but too late to capture the bandits.

It was the second such incident at the store within recent weeks. Ramdeo said two weeks ago, bandits struck in similar fashion carting away several pieces of clothing, electronic equipment and other items. He could not say whether the attacks are targeted and are being carried out by persons close to the business. Across at Muneshwer's, Amarnath Muneshwer, one of the owners, said it would have taken collaboration between members of his staff and the bandits to have carried out such a robbery on Saturday morning. A gang of seven masked men torched their way into Muneshwer's Hardware Store on Water Street early Saturday morning carting off some $30M, which was to have been paid to suppliers. Police arrested eight men following a sweep in Tiger Bay and surrounding communities.

Reports are that the seven-man gang attacked around 4 am on Saturday. Three of the robbers were armed with handguns. They held up the five unarmed security guards on duty at the business entity and placed them in a storage bond. While one of the bandits stood guard, the other men used a welding set to cut into the building and into a metal safe from which they took the cash. It is suspected that the bandits escaped by way of the Demerara River.

Muneshwer told Stabroek News yesterday that the business is still recovering from the devastating fire, which ravaged the building in 2003. He said the money that was stolen was set aside to pay a supplier of cement. "Right now I don't know where we will find the money to pay," the proprietor said.

He said the bandits used gloves and left no trace behind.

Stabroek News was told that the police questioned all five of the security guards.