By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A MAN allegedly responsible for “hundreds of armed robberies” was arrested with another man after leading police on a high-speed chase on Carmichael Road on Friday morning, averting what senior police said could have been a “disaster for some business people” in the lead up to Christmas.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stephen Dean, the two men were captured by police after they were reportedly spotted “canvassing” the Carmichael Road area throughout much of Friday morning. ACP Dean said police were notified shortly before 11am by a “concerned citizen” after various business owners feared their establishments would be robbed.

ACP Dean said at various points on Carmichael Road, the car driven by the suspects could be seen by business owners “slowing down” suspiciously, as if they were scoping out their potential targets. ACP Dean also said police are investigating to see if the vehicle used was stolen.

On being notified, ACP Dean said officers from the mobile division caught up with the two men “midways” on Carmichael Road, which resulted in a chase east on Carmichael Road. ACP Dean said the chase ended in the Golden Gates Shopping Plaza, where the two men ditched a firearm from the vehicle.

Shortly afterwards, both men were arrested and taken into custody, ACP Dean said.

ACP Dean said while police believe both suspects are responsible for committing a number of armed robberies, one of the suspects is known to be a “prolific armed robber” who has been “in and out of the system” and who was likely “about to do some severe, serious damage during this Christmas”.

Nonetheless, ACP Dean attributed Friday’s arrest to “public support” and members of the public “working in concert with the police”.

“This is exactly what we have been asking the public,” he said. “Immaterial to how insignificant the information might seem, you might say it was nothing. One could have easily said thats some guys just passing. But because the public was alert, they are listening to the message we continue to send out, they are listening to us. And as a result of the public, a concerned citizen, they put in that phone call and that phone call helped us to get the success today.

“Preliminary examination of these two individuals, we can tell you that one of them is a prolific armed robber, who has been in and out of the systems,” ACP Dean added. “He is responsible for hundreds of armed robberies in this country, and we believe he was about to do some severe, serious damage during this Christmas. But I believe we have averted what could have been a disaster for some business people today.

“But we want to reassure members of the public that our people are up and about, our officers are out there canvassing the area. We told you in the policing plan earlier this year that we will be looking at these types of things, looking at the prolific offenders, and we are targeting them. We have some more prolific offenders on the agenda, because these people are in and out of the system. We believe we can keep them behind bars, we will be able to bring crime to a manageable level.”

Still, ACP Dean cautioned the public to exercise caution as they conduct their personal affairs at this time of year, which he said includes checking one’s surroundings, alternating travelling routes and remaining vigilant while parking in various parking lots.

ACP Dean also made an appeal to business owners to not seek to make large bank deposits without the assistance of a “reputable” security agency and/or the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF).

“Depositing by yourself, those days are over,” he said. “We are asking you, we are pleading with you, get a reputable security firm to help you escort that large sum of money. And also you can talk to the police to get assistance with escort duties as the case may be.

“We also say to business persons, do not carry large sums of money home with a view that ‘I’m going to take it to the bank the next day’. Do not leave large sums of money in the business places overnight. That’s only creating a temptation for somebody. So we are asking you to be alert.”

ACP Dean added: “Crime prevention and personal safety, it starts with you, the individual. You have to be alert. This is the time that we know people are happy, they worked hard all year, they’re looking at loved ones who they can buy gifts for, some things they can do, but we are asking you to not let your guard down.”