Three gunmen suspected of robbing two groceries and a young woman in North Sophia on Monday evening opened fire on a police mobile patrol yesterday morning in Prashad Nagar.

No one was injured during the shoot-out which saw the police returning fire and chasing after the men who eluded them.

A police source told this newspaper the officers were responding to the robbery yesterday morning after the perpetrators were identified liming at the junction of Pike Street and the eastern highway of Sophia. Stabroek News was told that the man who made the report was seen in the company of police officers earlier so when the suspects saw the police vehicle they opened fire on it.

According to reports, as the police vehicle approached the men several shots were fired, sending the ranks scampering for cover. The police returned fire and chased after the gunmen but were unable to apprehend them.

The officers then sent for back up, scoured several alleyways in the area and raided a shack where one of the bandits was thought to have been. They also raided several other shacks in the area and also searched a few houses in Kaikan Street, South Ruimveldt. Up to press time, no one was arrested.

During Monday evening's onehour blitz, the bandits operated without masks and were armed with two hand guns and a rifle. Some residents felt they were not from the area, but others disagreed, saying the men operated as if they were residents.

Speaking to Stabroek News Kinsell Gibbons, one of the victims, said he was in his shop around 7 pm when he heard his gate being rocked. Gibbons said he exited the shop to enquire who it was only to be stopped by one of three men. "Soon as I peep out my door is a gun pointing at me."

Gibbons said after he was stuckup, the bandits demanded cash, but he told them he had none.

He said the men became furious when he denied having cash and immediately they proceeded to terrorise him, lashing him in the middle of his head with their weapons.

Once he received the lash, Gibbons said, he handed over the day's sales to the men and lay at the corner of his shop while blood trickled from his bruised head.

Not satisfied with the $4,000 Gibbons handed them, the bandits ran into the man's house. On seeing them, his wife jumped through a window and attempted to climb over the fence. She was hauled back into the yard and had a gun placed to her head while the bandits demanded more money and jewellery.

Gibbons said his wife pleaded with the bandits, telling them they had no more jewellery or money. They left the woman in the yard and marched into the house again where they ransacked drawers and clothes baskets in the presence of the man's children. Gibbons was certain they did not find any valuables and they departed firing several shots into the air.

Gibbon said he has been a constant target for bandits. Only last year, two masked bandits broke into his home and carried away a substantial sum of cash and gold jewellery.

Leaving Gibbons' home around 7.15 pm, the bandits ran into a group of young men liming on a bridge. One of the men told this newspaper that they would usually hang out on the bridge every night. He said when they heard the first gunshot they attempted to run, but the bandits stopped them and placed everyone to lay face downwards.

Two of the bandits ran through the men's pockets, while the third proceeded to Derek Rambarran's grocery, which is located near the bridge.

Rambarran said he was in his shop and was going to enquire about the shooting when the bandit cornered him and demanded cash.

Rambarran said he ignored the man at first. However, as soon as the man brandished his weapon, Rambarran said he quickly delivered the money box in his hands. Rambarran estimated that the box had about $500 most being in $20 bills.

"The plenty $20 bills full he eye and he put all in he pocket and walk off quickly," Rambarran said.

According to the grocer, who has been doing business for the past five years, after the bandit left his shop, he went outside where he saw the young men still lying on the ground. The bandits moved off, firing more shots, and happened upon a young woman who was adorned with several pieces of jewellery. The bandits stripped her of all, as well as her pocket change and finally disappeared somewhere in the direction of Bel Air. Police conducted several searches in the area yesterday morning but did not find them.

One woman in the area said petty crime was on the rise. She said the bandits would use to their full advantage the many dark alleyways and the absence of electricity. She told this newspaper the bandits did not strike regularly, but whenever they did, several persons were usually robbed. The woman called on the police to conduct regular patrols in the area.

Over the past two weeks, bandits operating on the East Coast seem to have taken a liking to groceries. Already five groceries in the villages of Beterverwagting, Better Hope and Triumph have been robbed.