Burglars torch way into Grove Post Office…again

- $100,000 plus computer stolen

By Leonard Gildarie

For the second time in months, unknown persons have torched their way in the Grove Post Office, this time stealing more than $100,000 in cash and a computer.

The burglary, early yesterday morning, left the facility closed for the day and neighboring businesses and persons calling for increased security.

Scores of letters were also burnt and left strewn on the floor of the building.
Investigators were on the scene early yesterday as the staffers turned up for work and found the back door wide open and contents of the safe, minus cash, burnt from the blow torch used.
Kaieteur News was told that the perpetrators, like the earlier break-in in early November, torched an iron bar on the back window to gain entry.
Using raincoats which several staff had left in the building, the burglars covered the window and torched open one of the safes. Several documents were burnt in the process, this newspaper was told.
It is believed that they left through the back door since the locks there were also torched and removed.

Oxy-fuel welding and cutting

Kaieteur News has learnt that it was more than likely that the break-in occurred in the morning hours as a businessman whose building is under construction next door said he was there from midnight and heard or saw nothing.
This newspaper understands that due to the damage when burglars broke in early November, it was only recently that the door to a main safe was returned and re-installed. This may possibly have saved more losses and damage.
It is also believed that the same persons who broke in yesterday were responsible for the previous attempt.

Bishop Juan Edghill

Yesterday, Chairman of the Guyana Post Office Corporation, Bishop Juan Edghill, said that he was aware of the break-in and that police were conducting their investigations, but he was unable to provide details.
The Chairman, while refusing to discuss security measures of post offices, would only say that a number of measures have been implemented to minimize losses, including not keeping too much on the premises.
Among its wide range of services, post offices pay pensioners and process money orders.