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.