‘Burger man’ shot and robbed

Harry Chatoor, 68, who operates a vending cart was shot in the abdomen by two bandits who stormed his house.

Yesterday, the condition of Chatoor, who is affectionately called the “burger man,” was described as serious by doctors at the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH).

According to police reports, Chatoor of Cipero Road, Jordan Hill in Princes Town was asleep with his wife Shirley, 58, and their three children when the bandits forced their way into his home around 1.40 am.

One of the bandits, the report stated, fired a shot at Chatoor who was lying in bed. According to the report, they then seized $4,000 in cash, $9,000 worth of jewelry and a CD player from the house before escaping in a waiting vehicle.

Chatoor’s family contacted the police and an Emergency Health Services ambulance which took the badly bleeding, semi-conscious man to the SFGH where he received emergency treatment. Police officers quickly issued an All-Points Bulletin (APB) advising officers to be on the lookout for the car in which the bandits escaped. However, up to late yesterday, no arrests had been made.

In another incident, lawmen arrested four men from Barataria just minutes after they had robbed a Freeport hardware yesterday. The four suspects who attempted to escape in a red-band maxi-taxi, were cornered by police near Chaguanas.

According to reports, around 10.45 am, four gunmen entered Reesal Hardware at Southern Main Road and announced a hold-up. The bandits ordered the employees into a room on the top floor of the building where they were tied up.

The bandits then stole $20,000 from a cash register before escaping in a maxi-taxi. Their freedom was shortlived, however, since one of the victims freed himself and made a report to the police who issued an APB. Central Division officers who responded to the APB spotted the suspects in the maxi-taxi and held them, recovering the $20,000 and two firearms. The suspects are expected to be placed on several identification parades over the weekend in connection with other robberies in the Central district. They are expected to appear in court next week. Investigations are continuing.