Robbers tie up victims

| 01/11/2010

(CNS):  Updated – Police have now confirmed earlier reports on CNS that two men were tied up by armed suspects in the early hours of this morning during a robbery at the Ramada Grand Caymanian on the North Sound. At about 1.30 am Monday two members of staff were inside an office at the Ramada Grand Caymanian, when they were suddenly confronted by two masked men armed with what appeared to be handguns. The robbers tied the men up and left them locked in the office before the suspects entered another office which contained the safe. The victims remained tied up for around two hours before one of the men eventually managed to free himself and raise the alarm.

It was then that they discovered that the robbers had forced open the safe and fled the scene with a sum of cash. Neither of the men at the resort were injured during their ordeal and no shots were fired by the robbers. The first suspect is described as having a dark complexion, 5’6” in height and weighing 200 – 200lbs. He was wearing a black t-shirt, dark blue faded jeans and black and white sneakers. He had a black ski mask covering his face.

The second robber had a slim build and was about 6’ in height. He was wearing a long sleeved hoodie with camouflage pants and white sneakers.

Detective Sergeant Richard Scott who is leading the investigation asked anyone with information to come forward.

“This was a terrifying ordeal for the two men involved – luckily they weren’t injured. Initial indications
are that this was a pre-planned robbery,” the detective said. “It could be that the two suspects had been watching the movements of staff for a few days prior to the actual incident. That’s why I’d be keen to talk to people who saw anything suspicious in the days and nights leading up to the incident, as well as anyone who may have been in the area around the relevant time this morning. The information you have may be vital to the enquiry and I’d ask you to get in touch with us as quickly as possible.”

DS Scott said information canbe passed to the Criminal Investigation Department at George Town police
station on 949-4222 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).

This is now the second tourist location to be targeted by robbers following the recent robbery in the heart of Seven Mile Beach at the Grand Cayman Beach Suites last month.

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  1. Logic?? says:

    I do not understand how people think that they can stop the crime when there are no weapons.  How could those employees possibly protect themselves against guns when they don’t have them.  For those of you saying that it takes a long time to use a gun, that is simply not the fact.  One can learn how to use a gun safely and efficiently within a week of time.  Then you keep practicing.  These thugs are afraid of guns.  believe it or not, they are cowards.  If guns are allowed in the police and security sector, crime will deteriorate.  The thugs would not have went into a hotel and done crime if there was the slightest chance that they could get shot.  Before you know it, store owners, security guards,etc will be buying illegal guns in order to protect themselves, because the government is not helping at all.  If the government does not want people to have firearms, then they should bring in a force that is equipped with firearms and let them fight crime.  The cost of lost tourism is going to much more expensive than hiring in certified security guards and police who do carry guns.  I would feel more comfortable coming to the Island if I knew that the "good" people had guns to counteract the bad people!!  As it is right now, the crime is high, guns are being used, and there is NO ONE on the Island that can protect the innocent people, because of having NO GUNS.  Open your eyes and stop thinking this will just end.  It is not going to!  It is going to get worse before better.  By now, the thugs have many people under their control.  They have places to hide!

    • Truth says:

      Yes there is no crime or gun crime in countries that allow hand guns at home.

      Please look at the US crime rate and gun crime rates

      • Logic?? says:

         You shouldn’t compare a huge beast(USA) to a small beast(Cayman). I never said there would not be gun crime, I did say that these thugs would be scared if there were others who had guns, I believe I specifically said Police and Security.  The crimes that are committed in the US, are by thugs who once again, just like in Cayman, received their guns illegally.  Some states, like Texas, for example, have very low crime because people can carry weapons.  Those weapons are licensed through a strict database.  When you purchase a gun in the states legally, they submit all of your information through the federal government! Therefore, your fingerprints are easily accessible.  So no/low crime with legal gun owners because they will get caught. You are not going to stop the illegal guns, but the legal people need to have access to them.  If you were police or security would you want to face a thug who has a gun when you have NO MEANS of protection?  What is there to deter these criminals?  There is nothing for these people to fear, except themselves.  If police in the states did not have guns, the crime would be much worse! 

        I can not understand people who think that crime can be fought without the correct means of deterring the crime.  Do you think there would be less robberies if the police and security carried weapons?  I sure do!

        What is Cayman going to do if a hostage situation occurs?  It can easily happen because the LAW has no means of protection!  You can’t go to gun fights with a stick.  It doesn’t make sense!  if you don’t want Caymanians to have guns, then hire forces from other countries to come and clean up the Island.

        I would feel much safer coming to your Island if I knew there was some sort of protection!  There is none!  I spend at least $5,000.00 of my HARD EARNED money to come to your Island.  I will just travel to another area that is safer.  yes there are safer places and guess what, their LAW has guns!

      • Anonymous says:

        I think what the previous writer was trying to say was that the law enforcement agencies on Cayman should have more weapons available to them, not that private individuals should be armed. At least then those same law enforcement officers could defend themselves AND members of the public.

    • Anonymous says:

      Crime has escalated to producing advanced skilled criminals.

      I mean they’re not shatching purses they’re kidnapping people and tieing them up!

      And the best response that Commissioner Baines can pullout fro under his UK hat is :

      ‘LETS FINGERPRINT ALL THE GUEST WORKERS ON WORK PERMITS!":

      What a sorry excuse for a looser!

      Baines if you have commonsense or if you are a professional at all don’t you realize you have to FINGERPRINT EVERONE IF YOU ARE TO FIGHT CRIME EFFECTIVELY IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS OR ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD?

      Who do you think you’re fooling?

      You owe us an apology for thinking we’re ignorant and unlearned. That’s the biggest mistake any government can make of its people.

    • Anonymous says:

      Everyone is talking about guns and arm the police and security guards. What would happen if a young Caymanian commits a crime and ended up in a shootout  and was killed in the shoot -out? And what if the police officer or security guard was a forigner working on the Island? Good gracious, we would see what happen when the shoe is on the other foot. I can hardly visulize the street protests, the the entries on the bloggs, the newspaper articles, the angry calls on the call-in radio programmes. Mothers crying, brothers swearing,fathers calling on government to send home the erring officer or security guard . Calls for firing the Police Chief and a host of other solutions. The fact is ; lots of persons are calling for arming the security services but that is only because of the boiling point crimes have reach in Cayman. What would you do if it was your son, or nephew, or uncle or some other persons like a close friend. Could you handle it? Then again if there is wholesale arming of the security services isn’t there a possibility that the criminal elements will procure better and more powerful weapons than the police to continue their unlawful acts? I have been in a position to observe situations when guns were used by the police in shoot outs in another country and there were a genuine cases where  youngsters were shot and high powered  weapons recovered by the police from them. The results were blocked roads, street protests, threats to the police.and other unfavorable consequences. Even politicians got on the "band-wagon" to "fight for their constituents" without even having enough information about the situation.Cayman Islands is not used to see these situations in the Islands and its going to be hard to adapt. One lady at a down town bank was very alarmed to see officers who were escorting a lodgement on a special assignment with guns . She was heard to say"My God , what is Cayman Islands coming to , Police with guns!!?"

      Think about it Cayman . Be careful what you wish for you might just get it,

      and you might no like the end results.

      Think on these things.

    • Anonymous says:

      No disrespect, but how is an unarmed security guard going to protect me? Is he going to yell "stop,don’t do that" to the intruder or attacker? Isn’t that what I would do myself?

      I never gave it thought before on my many stays in Cayman. Maybe as there was no need too.  I also have never given thought to the armed guards at other hotels around the world. Maybe because their presence made me feel safe. I must say that now that crime has become a factor in Cayman I would much rather have an armed security guard roaming the premises at night protecting me.

      I also feel with the level of crime that individuals should be able to carry pepper spray or the like. If not, if I was living down there I would make sure to carry hair spray or bug spray and a whistle no matter when or where I went and to have my keys out and ready to dig into the eyes of an attacker.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Monday 18:13 – No thanks to the moron who implied that expats should be robbed!! How hateful is that?!  How about keeping those sick thoughts to yourself, lest most people think we’re all like you. 

    BTW, Compare the descriptions of these robbers and the ones who did the home invasion in Mahogany Way (Monday’s Compass, page 2) – same pair perhaps?  That’s not much help though, RCIPS are not catching anyone anyway!!  

    • Anonymous says:

      RCIPS is a joke, they are waste of our money.  They do not follow up on leads and reports.  They come to your house and tell us ‘lets get this dealt with as i am dealing with a lot of stuff" and you never hear from them again after chasing them up and down. 

      I (on behalf of my son)made a request of Bodden Town Station on Thursday  to go and warn someone to try to avoid any futher threats and violence, I am stilling waiting on confirmation that this has been done(after many calls) still no response-this is just ANOTHER CASE  that they are waiting for something to happen-so they can keep busy(my opinion)

      You can agree or disagree it does not change my view. 

    • Anonymous says:

      CNS if a person advocate robbing any persons instead of another, that is almost inciting .I think you should closely examine those statements. Press freedom is good but when somebody say ifyou have to rob, you should rob expat that is outrageous and warrants another look.

      CNS: That’s what the abuse button is for.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Fingerprinting and taking DNA samples of all the American lawyers, British accountants, Canadian bar staff and Filipino domestics is sure going to help catch these bad guys.

    Actually, I suppose it will because it will make everyone face up to who are really responsible for the crime that is destroying the prospects of Cayman – its own people.
     
    Rather than spend millions of dollars on these idiotic schemes let me have a couple of days data-mining government databases and I’ll have a list of suspects for the police to question in detail.
  4. Anonymous says:

    Everytime I see these post on Robberies you can find one or two stupid suggestions from people who are obviously Caymanian saying why do they rob the poor Caymanians who have nothing when they should be robbing the expats. You need to think, these are YOUR people. These are you sons, daughters, relatives. These are people your immigration system let in. The expats with nice homes and businesses are an asset to this island. We can leave as easily as we came and you will be the worse off as a result. Most of these people you think should be robbed have worked much harder and smarter than you to obtain the lives they have built here. We raised our kids like we built our companies and they are not out robbing people at gunpoint. They are being raised to be productive members of society. You need to go out and peel the tint off juniors car and buy him some new pants that fit. Slap a chastity belt on your daughters. Get rid of the two party system. You want them to rob me? Do you not understand there are more expat businesses here with no storefronts than there are businesses you see with your eyes. This means the businesses are mobile. I could move my office in a weekend and be back in business on a Monday anywhere in the world permanently. What do you think it will be like when the people like us start to leave? These criminals think just like you do, no respect.

    • Anonymous says:

      I am sorry to see that you feel that way about the people of the cayman islands but for you to say the things that you have said in your comments its very rude and disrespectfull to the people of these islands. What ever that person was thinking when they made that comment was not in the right state of mind, but what you have said about or children it same like something more personal. These things dont only happen in the cayman islands it happens all over the world. 

      My question is why do we have people like you coming to our country if yours is so much better.

      Your Reply to that persons comment did not make you any better than him or her and you say that your educated. 

       

      • the Expats (you know, the people who bring money to Cayman) says:

        "My question is why do we have people like you coming to our country if yours is so much better.."

        Cayman used to be better, but now it’s not.  It’s very much worse now.  That’s why we’re leaving. 

        It’s too bad that a few of you are running Cayman into the ground and destroying the economy for everyone, but hey, it’s your country so if you want to allow that to happen we’ll honour your decision and act accordingly. 

        Please note that now that we see that Cayman can’t police itself, we’re unlikely to come back. It would all just happen again.

    • Anonymous says:

      What rage!  Why don’t you leave on Wednesday and set up your business elsewhere?  Better for your health.  You left your home to come here where you would make more money but now crime is threatening all of us and much of it is being committed by expats – from petty thief to murderer.   Junior might need pants that fit but John and Mary had better stay further from the bottle and other hard stuff!

      Go in peace — This Beverly Hills Ja will soon have nuff squatters — hope this Caymanian will have somewhere to run to……

  5. Anonymous says:

    The various Gov’t parties and ministers are irrelevant.  The Police didn’t know the place was being robbed until much later.  What matters is that thieves and murderers now feel comfortable going home to their hovels with fresh loot, weapons, or blood on their hands and nobody in their household, or neighbourhood ever raises alarm.  Whether that reality is owed to fear, a sense of entitlement, misplaced loyalty, or shared genealogy, it is nevertheless the betrayal our small community has to deal with and the nucleus of our crime problem.  

  6. durrrr says:

    I’m impressed by how quickly the police have pinned down the first suspect’s weight!

  7. Anonymous says:

     Average Joe in these posts have better ideas how to catch those criminals.Why, allegedly trained and educated police act as a bunch of dummies. Many times it was asked why are they coming after the fact, when they should be acting while criminals are trying to escape. In some cases the response time can be less than 5 min. Taking into account very few escape roads, why, why they are not acting while it is hot? What is police helicopter for? Escape vehicles were identified in many cases, why it is hard to locate them? The only answer comes to mind: because they don’t want to. If Caymanian police officers afraid of retaliation, then may be they should not be employed?

    • Anonymous says:

       Because the victims were immobilized and couldn’t call for help.

  8. cctv man says:

    So many Rinky dink cops running around these days. The necessary changes that were needed and promised by the commissioner of police and governing powers have all but disappeared and we again find ourselves in the same old position. This has cause many of us to wonder what the real agenda is for Cayman by our mother country? It would appear no one cares too much either. The law enforcement Budget is enormous though.

  9. Anonymous says:

     Why rob Caymanians, we are un-employed and have no money- so who is next that makes all the money ?? Expatriats…

    • Anonymous says:

       Fool

    • Common Sense says:

      Ladies and Gents, boys and girls, step right up and see with your very own eyes, at absolutely no charge whatsoever, Cayman’s very own winner of the world-famous Biggest Jackass on Earth award!  I present to you for your awe and amazement, the PREVIOUS POSTER !!!

  10. Anonymous says:

    the rich are getting richer , everybody else is struggling , 99 % of the wealth of these small islands are in the hands of a few., causing a lot of resentment

    . not a surprise that crime is on the increase

    • Anonymous says:

      Can someone please explain this resentment to the other people that were raised with a value system…how and why do you feel that you are entitled to other people’sproperty?  What kind of person abandons their family honour when things get tough?  Only a morally bankrupt person would empathize with criminal behavior, and it would imply that you are either one of the perpetrators, or a willing enabler!

  11. Classified says:

    Junky what are you saying?   Put guns in Security Officers hands, and in homes.  Are you gone coocoonuts.

  12. Anonymous says:

    I am so angry and frustrated with the do nothing politicians in the Cayman Islands that I could scream.

    All they are good for is collecting their money and talking crap on Rooster.

    They should all resign and an immediate election should take place to get some fresh blood into elected office with the mandate to clean up the country.

    These politicians think because they can "talk the talk" that makes them statesmen, what a joke.

    Every politician collecting a check should be ashamed of themselves regardless of party and that includes Ezzard.

  13. A Guy says:

    This has to stop now. Tourists don’t go to crime ridden places on vacation. Stop it now or kiss the tourism dolla goodbye.

    Very sad, and the individuals who are responsible are destroying the islands for all of us. If anyone even suspects they know who is involved, do something about it, or you are killing the islands also. Cowards!

    • the Tourism Dollar says:

      Dude, I got kissed and boarded the plane months ago, and I ain’t comin back!  It’s too flippin dangerous in Cayman!

  14. Anonymous says:

    We vowed not to let the crime on the island deter us from visiting! We have been visiting the island for the last ten years (usually 2 – 3 times a year). Shootings, robberies of gas stations, thefts of pocketbooks, but we were still coming. We kept telling ourselves that crime on the island would get better, BUT now they tie up two men in the office of a hotel !

    We both work in a city. Crime happens there each day. We need to "watch our backs" each day, BUT to spend our saved holiday money NOT to feel safe…ridiculous! No, No, NO……we just are not going to spend our time wondering if someone is coming thru our balcony door or attack us in the parking lot.

    Cayman Islands…we are not sure if we will be back, BUT we do know that our reservations are being cancelled immediately. We will spend our holiday where we do not have to worry. Where is that, you ask? There are alot of places in this world that do not have the crime statistics that GC has currently. Even the city where we work is not as bad(and it is a major city).

    To the cowards doing all this criminal activity…shame on you for taking away the peace on the island. We have probably met you along the way thru our years of travel. What our earth are you thinking? Where is your respect to yourself? Your momma would be ashamed! We know you are ashamed of yourself. Time to really think about all that you are doing and change it up real quick.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Go to The Brac!!!!. Have a beer at Captains Table and maybe another at Brac Reef, go for a stroll under the stars and then a meal at Aunt Sha’s. You will find the Brackers will welcome you, not rob you!!. I just wish we could spend even more time there!!!!.

  15. BRAIN STORM says:

    Ya,ya, ya.  Please.   I doubt it is Caymanians, because they are not going to tie up anyone, thats for sure. So go figure it out.

    • Anonymous says:

      The above post did not mention "Caymanian"…only that they probably met them thru their travels on the island. Cayman is small and it is a mix of many cultures. Whomever is doing the crime most likely lives on the island. They have no respect for themselves or their families. They have no respect for their community. What used to be a peaceful island is no more. What used to be a safe island is no more. What used to be a vacation spot is sadly no more….not when one is worried about their safety.

  16. MER says:

    Our news chronicles are becoming similar to what we might expect in the Bronx! Murder, robbery…..

    • noname says:

      Or maybe even London, Glasgow, Manchester, Berlin … (gasp!!)

      (Rolls eyes!)

      Such a stereotypical comment.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Yet no word from McKeeva Bush!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • someone needing some help from a real leader says:

      That’s because Mac has nothing to say about it.  He "asked" the criminals to stop, and "prayed" that the crime would end, so from his perspective he’s done his part fully and completely.  He’s since gone on to trying to make the last little bit of money for himself and his friends that he can, before the island collapses and there’s nothing left to pillage.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Mmmm if I was a tourist I would begin to think there was a serious armed robbery problem on this island- hotels, bars and resorts and also this year people in the street in seven mile area.  Not so safe any more cayman.  Don’t blame the police – no-one puts a gun in someone’s hand and says here you go out and commit an armed robbery.  Fear of apprehension and punishment has been shown by criminologists to have no bearing on the liklihood of offending.  It’s just the way society is going around the world.  Bring back national service and take away the "I wanna be a billionnaire so freakin bad" culture.  People want something for nothing. Parents need to instill values in children.  End of.  My parents did it for me and I feel bad about the one speeding ticket I have had in my entire 4 decades of life.

  19. Anonymous says:

    It is my personal belief that there are a limited number of armed robbers in the Cayman Islands who will continue to steal until they are caught.

    Most likely after every robbery in which they are not captured they will become embolden them to do even more outrageous crimes.

    To those people out there who know the identity of these criminals to tell someone will perhaps save their lives.

    In such a small environment such as Cayman such crimes are much more destructive to the society and these criminals do not care who they hurt.

    Will someone please "man up" and tell someone to get these criminals off our streets.

  20. Lachlan MacTavish says:

     It is beyond belief. The lax do nothing attitude from the elected leaders of our country towards the crime rampage that is occurring, just unbelievable. And it is all the elected members, not just the premier deputy premier. The MLA’s are allowing Cayman to repeat the histories of JA and The Bahamas. Two tourism properties robbed in what 2-3 weeks. 

  21. Anonymous says:

    No doubt the governor, police commissioner and the premier will hold a pres conference to reassure the people and tourist industry that this is being taken seriously and outline the decisive action will be taken to stop this dreadful wave of violent crime from ruining the country.

    hahaha just kidding!

    See you back here next week when this happens again.

  22. Visitor to Island says:

    This is so upsetting!  I am really considering not coming to the Island for my already planned trip.  It is very unsettling to see that the crime is ramping up but it appears as though the police force is not. What I find troublesome is that the police do not want to release information quickly.  When information is released quickly, the odds of catching the thugs increases. They report it hours if not days, if not weeks later and expect people to be able to help them then.  I am in shock as to how the RCIPS is handling these situations.  Isn’t their enough proof to have security guards and police carry guns?  These thugs are not afraid of the police because the police can not stop them with a baton, or whatever they are using.  Shame shame shame!  Hang in their beautiful Cayman people!  I hope they start to get "tough" on crime…and do it real quick!

  23. Anonymous says:

    Desperate times requre desperate measures? May be it is time to bring competent and skillful police force from overseas to handle "organized" Cayman crime?  Someone who has intelligence and experience to screen roughly 5,000 individuals to figure this all out? It will be piece of cake for them, a vacation..

    • Karl the Canuck says:

      I said it before an I’ll say it a few more times: bring in the Canadian Mounties.  They do foreign-soil policing and police training all the time, and they are very, very effective.  Nice people too, actually.

      Further to that, I have to say that I do wonder sometimes at the failure of the Cayman leadership to set up an effective police force.  It’s almost like they don’t want effective crime detection present on the island.  What are they doing that can’t bear scrutiny?

  24. investor A says:

    Dublin is looking better everyday. What a joke law enforcement is on this island. All the good cops gone. We are left with the Foreign rumble and the corrupt locals a recipe for the extremely dangerous situations and outcomes which we have now become a custom to and experiencing everyday.

  25. Anonymous says:

    How many more robberies will it take before our do nothing politicians get off their back sides and pass legislation that will keep these thugs off our streets for a very long time. Perhaps if the police officers assigned to guard them were reassigned to protect the rest of us then the legislation would get passed.

    • the answer says:

      "How many more robberies will it take before our do nothing politicians get off their back sides…"

      They won’t.  Sorry Anon, but your leaders just don’t care, and they won’t get off their backsides.  Ever.

      Funny thing is that Caymanians will re-elect them all again next time around, meaning either this party will be either the government or the opposition, and the other party will be the converse.  Caymanians will put the same people in power, and then go on complaining that they keep getting the same thing over and over.

      So nothing will change.

  26. JUNKY says:

    It’s Time GOVERNMENT Put Some Law In Place!!

    That all Home owners/Security gaurds should own a licences gun.

    And then we will all see the drastic change  throu out the country.

    Think idiots before it’s too late, image it’s the tourist target in mater of a month.

    • Anonymous says:

      I wonder who would want to stay on this island after guns are allowed?  Not even police is ready to handle it because the have no adequate education and training. 

      • Lachlan MacTavish says:

         IMHO I believe most should stop blaming the RCIP. Where is The Premier and Deputy Premier? Where is the back bench? It is pathetic how we the voters have allowed our leaders to ignore the crime issue and let the situation grow to this proportion.

    • Anonymous says:

      I am afraid that the quality of security guards the security companies are hirig cannot be trusted with firearms. They might cause more harm than good. That is why they satisfy with $5 to $7 per hour.