Police search for Chinese restaurant bandits

The robbery occurred at the Kam Wong Restuarant, Eastern Main Road, Arouca at around 7.45pm. The men, who were unmasked, were armed with guns and robbed restaurant patrons of cash, cellphones and a women’s handbag. There were no reports of injuries during the incident.

One of the men was wearing a blue and white striped polo shirt, blue three-quarter pants and a blue cap while the second wore a black cap, white vest and a red three quarter-pants. A video of the incident was posted on social media on Friday morning.

Investigations are continuing.

The incident was the latest in a series of crimes where Chinese nationals, mostly business people, have been targeted.

On July 12, 57 year-old Zhang Sijiu, the driver of Chinese Ambassador Song Yumin, was snatched along Hayes Street in St Clair shortly after 7 am. A call was made to the Embassy and a $20,000 ransom demanded. Arrangements were made for the money to be dropped off at the Roxy roundabout at 11 am. However, the kidnapped was unaware that the stolen car he used to transport Zhang, was outfitted with GPS and it was intercepted and forced to come to a halt by police. Zhang was rescued and taken to hospital while the suspect was arrested and taken into custody. On June 27 businesswoman Yana Zeng, 33, was robbed and shot dead at her mini mart in Santa Cruz.

Then on June 15 businessman Shirui Zhao and his employee Yanli Gu gunned down in the car park of Kosume bar, New Haven Avenue, Marabella. On June 13 Francis Lee Lon, 67, and his wife Sylvie, 77, were robbed at their Fourth Street, Barataria home by three men. The couple handed over cash and jewellery valued at $13,530 and were tied up. They untied themselves and alerted the police. The three bandits and getaway driver were held and the stolen items recovered.

Newsday also found four separate incidents of Chinese nationals being robbed in 2016.