Eight armed robberies in a single weekend

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

NEW Providence was plagued by EIGHT armed robberies over the weekend – and it’s an area of crime police continue to struggle to get under control.

While officers have yet to verify if the eight attacks are connected, Superintendent Stephen Dean said police have already set in motion a plan to crackdown on armed robbery.

Mr Dean said: “We are just now analysing things, but I have noticed some trends. While we are doing well in certain areas, this area needs more of our attention. Later this week, we will educate the public on what to look for and how to avoid becoming a victim.”

The weekend spree comes as police continue to investigate four armed robberies from last Tuesday and Wednesday.

And, last Saturday, 33-year-old Neremy Noel was shot in the back and killed in Garden Hills after he and another man were robbed of their cellphones and a laptop by two men armed with a handgun.

Mr Dean said in the upcoming days the public will see an intensified police presence in a number of communities. 

In the first incident, which occurred shortly after 6pm on Friday, police said a man was approached by three men who were armed with a hand gun.

The victim who was near the Texaco gas station in Robinson Road was robbed of jewellery and other personal items. The men then fled on foot.

Another robbery then took place three hours later when a man was walking near East Street and Deveaux Street where two men with a handgun robbed him of money. 

The Real Deal Liquor Store on the corner of Baillou Hill Road and Soldier Road was then held up and robbed.

A man with a gun held hostage the manager and people in the store shortly before 9.30pm on Friday.  He then robbed them of an undisclosed amount of cash. The gunman fled on foot. Moments later, officers of the RBPF’s Selective Enforcement Team patrolled the area and arrested a 19-year-old resident of Nassau Village in connection with the raid.

Four more armed robberies were reported to police on Saturday and early Sunday morning.

Police said a man who was sitting in a vehicle in Stapledon Gardens was approached by three men armed with a handgun in a silver Honda rental car licence plate number SD244. The men robbed the victim of jewellery and then sped off.

The incident reportedly happened shortly before 3pm on Saturday.

One hour later, a man standing in front of Sun Tee on Shirley Street was approached by two men wearing white t-shirts and blue jean pants. The men armed with a gun, demanded cash and jewellery from the victim. They then fled on foot.

Later that night, a boat owner was robbed.

The victim told police that while his boat was moored at the Sea Breeze Canal, he was approached by two men with a handgun. The robbers took cash and jewellery from the victim. They then left the scene in a black Chevy Blazer at about 8pm.

The final reported incident happened at 3am on Sunday. 

The victim reported that while in the West Bay Street area, he was robbed of his green 2004 Honda Acura TL by the occupants of a Toyota Tercell. The robbers were armed with a cutlass.

Police are asking members of the public to come forward with any information that they might have.

Comments

Oracle says...

How do you expect citizens to be vigilant when the police is distorting the crime statistics to give a false sense of security where there is clearly none....this is a serious problem and BJ, Keith and Greenslade need to stop postering and sound the alarm and get all communities involve before it gets worse...and STOP TALKING ABOUT MODIFYING THE LAW TO BENEFIT CRIMINALS BJ...go build more prisons!!

Posted 13 August 2012, 1:25 p.m. Suggest removal

proudloudandfnm says...

Meanwhile our Minister of national Security is saying CRIME IS DOWN!!! I swear!! WIll the PLP ever be a legit government? And I wonder how many folks out there actually believe Nottage when he says crime is down????

PITIFUL!!!

Posted 13 August 2012, 2:06 p.m. Suggest removal

paul_vincent_zecchino says...

Wasn't the violence, let alone its blatant increase, supposed to have ended with the election?

Posted 13 August 2012, 7:05 p.m. Suggest removal

VS says...

I am not one to depend on any government to single-handedly rid this nation of crime, HOWEVER, one cannot help but to notice that since the May 2012 General Election, crime in this country has experienced a marked increase! Where are your billboards with statistics now, Mr. Prime Minister? I suggest the powers that be come together with both law enforcement (including members of the judicial system), and law-abiding citizens of this nation to suggest ways in which we can both decrease crime and further discourage criminal activities. Crime and Deterrents to Crime: These are matters of a referendum, Mister Speaker!

Posted 13 August 2012, 8:55 p.m. Suggest removal

maryann says...

Look at what you can get when you are tired of what you gat! A bunch of people who keeps distorting the truth and trying to build up a false sense of security. Putting the needs of the criminals before the law abiding citizens of the country. Looking after citizens of another country who have very little or no loyalty to the Bahamas but comes here purely for financial gains. You find MP'S putting these matters on the top of their agendas in the House of Assembly making statements like" these people need to be able to work to take care of their families" in most cases the real families they have back home. They call us y'll Bahamians even when they recieve their citizenship papers. While the average Bahamian who was born here in the bahamas struggles very hard to make ends meet .MP'S where is your loyalty to the Bahamian people who put you into office ." Bahamians first"

Posted 14 August 2012, 6:04 a.m. Suggest removal

pfunkf says...

no amount of plp style urben renual will reverse the out of control crime epidemic that has been unleashed upon our nation,the police force have benn reduced too plp campign workers.while the police are out delivering grocery bags and other goddies to inner city voters,the man power of the force is weakened.criminals study how to stratagizse and be ahead of the police, and becacse they have to run up they mouth every day to the media the criminals always get briefed each day and can measure their next move.the police force seem over structured with political control and other subuersive influience destroying the seperation off powers which the citizens need too see.no amount of media\ public relations by the police or the politican show offs can put fear in criminals.criminals are beasts of prey,who must be forced into compliense too the dictates of decent and law abiding socioty.

Posted 1 September 2012, 4:16 a.m. Suggest removal

Log in to comment