PARAMARIBO - The residents of Paramaribo North were recently shocked by two armed rob-beries that took place in their neighbourhood within 24 hours.
Both incidents that took place in the morning have raised questions about the safety in their neighbourhood and the effectiveness of police actions. Last Wednesday an entrepreneur was robbed by three masked gunmen in a black Toyota Vitz. The masked gunmen targeted the victim before making off with a huge sum of money. Although police units arrived swiftly, the masked gunmen managed to get away. It is not clear how much money was taken. The previous day three armed men who were traveling in a white Toyota Vitz opened fire on the vehicle of people when they returned home. The residents were then robbed at gunpoint. The armed men took their wallets and jewelry but also tried to take a green garbage bin. Security footage that has gone viral shows the gunmen looking in the green dustbin before leaving it behind and fleeting the scene in their getaway car. In both cases the victims remained unharmed. Residents from Paramaribo North expressed grave concern regarding the armed robberies and urged the authorities to take firm action. No suspects have been arrested yet. In May the owner of a gas station was robbed of about SRD 50,000. According to the police report, three masked gunmen robbed the gas station owner before fleeting the scene in a black Toyota Vitz.