Suspect bag-snatcher arrested

(CNS): Police said today one man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery following an incident which occurred on West Bay Road in the vicinity of Calico Jacks on Sunday evening, 19 July, when a man reportedly stole a woman’s bag. They are also investigating two other reports of muggings in George Town, one involved a woman having her handbag taken at knife point and another where a man was robbed by a suspect wielding a machete and riding a bicycle.

Police said that on Sunday night at around 5:35pm a woman reported to the 911 Emergency Communications Centre that a man had stolen her handbag and made off towards George Town in a vehicle. Detectives began an investigation and last night (July 20) a 32-year-old man was arrested at a road block in the Eastern Districts.

Enquiries are also being conducted into another alleged robbery which took place in the early hours of Monday morning. 911 received a call at approximately 4:55am from a man who reported that he had been robbed in the vicinity of Kirk Home Centre on Eastern Avenue, George Town. Police responding to the scene were told by the victim that he had been approached by a man on a bicycle who was carrying a machete and he had asked him for money.

The victim said he handed over his empty wallet and ran from the man. He said the offender chased him for a short time and that he had last seen him on Washington Boulevard. The offender is described as brown skinned with curly hair, around 5ft 9ins to 5ft 10ins tall and was wearing a grey T-shirt. The incident is under investigation by George Town CID. Anyone who was in the area at the time of the offence and may have seen the offender should contact officers on 949-4222.

In addition, police said they are also investigating a third incident which involved a woman having her handbag stolen. The incident occurred around 4:00am on Friday, 17 July. The victim has told police that she was dropping a friend in the School Road area of George Town when a man approached them carrying a knife and grabbed her handbag from her. The offender was wearing a white T-shirt which he used to cover his face. The woman was not hurt in the incident. Detectives from George Town CID are investigating.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.