Woman mugged at gunpoint

| 17/10/2009

(CNS): Update Monday 12:25pm – A woman was robbed of her purse on Friday evening by a man with a handgun as she made her way to her car. In the second crime of the day involving a gun the police said the woman was mugged at gunpoint around 8:15 in the evening as she left Casanova restaurant at the harbour front in downtown George Town and walked to the parking lot.  Though she was unhurt the victim was reportedly extremely distraught by the experience. She described the man as being of fair complexion, approximately 5’ 9’’, wearing camouflage pants and a large red t-shirt that he used to partially cover his head.

Literally 12 hours earlier and only a few yards away, two men armed with a knife and a gun robbed an undisclosed amount of cash from the popular tourist spot Margaritaville. The incident has caused particular concern over the impact it will have on tourism, as the police were forced to close off the building housing the bar as well an adjacent property as hundreds of cruise passengers began streaming into the vicinity. This was the second daylight armed robbery in the Centre of George Town in less than a month following the Quikcash robbery on Shedden Road  around 10:20 in the morning of 23 September.

In the incident near Casanova, police say that at approximately 8:15pm on Friday, the 911 Emergency Communications Centre received a call of a woman being robbed at gun point. The police attended and it was discovered that whilst walking towards her vehicle she was approached by a man carrying a gun who demanded that shegive him her purse. The woman handed over her purse and the suspect made off, direction and mode unknown.  There were no injuries.

A woman was also robbed at gunpoint outside Treasure Island condos on Tuesday night at around 9 o’clock, by a man who demanded she handed over her purse. Police have not yet confirmed if these two incidents are related.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    I am wondering, when will Immigration start the finger printing process at every point of entry into Cayman. I am quite sure they will finds a few criminals coming in.  They will also need to finger print everyone already on the Islands.  Maybe that is what McKeeva needs to ask his people to welcome and invest in, rather than for us to invest into inviting more expats in to this country first.  It will probably surprise everyone in the melting pot hom many criminals we are harbouringot in this country.  Rejects from other Countries, sheltering in the Cayman Islands.Afterall we already have a reputation of money Laundering, wha mek you think we don"t have the criminals too.

  2. Anne Bonny says:

    When all is said and done,  more is said than done.

     

  3. Concerned observer says:

    The scary thing is, this is only the tip of the iceburg. Just look at the number of kids going to John Gray HS and other schools in the morning with their pants falling off.

    These young kids are growing up in an environment of worthless and ignorant parents, and have no respect for authority.  They will be hitting our streets soon. Together with our Caymanian and foreign gangsters already in action, they will double or triple the serious crime in Cayman in the not too distant future.

    Ten years from now, we will be saying to our neighbours through the iron fence.."can you remember when Cayman only had one armed robbery per day…boy those were the good days"!!

    We only need kidnappings and bombs and we will be fully up-to-date with the rest of the uncivilised world!!

  4. Anonymous says:

    We have brought this upon ourselves……..

    We have gotten to be too materialistic, following the American way of life, driving around in big new cars and living in big houses, whether we can afford it or not. Too many Caymanians do not live within their means and have set a bad example for their children and our youth overall. Our children do not know what it means to be ambitious and work on a good career to afford a certain lifestyle. Everyone is just out to make a quick buck with as little work as possible.

    We have allowed our Government for too long not to enforce the rules and regulations of this country. Immigration issues are not controlled properly and there are too many people left on Island without having full time jobs. Everyone turns a blind eye and nobody wants to tell on the person they know who are out of a job, overstaying or who’s work permit has been cancelled. Even when an employer follows all rules, Immigration doesn’t follow up to ensure that those people have left the Island.

    Police -stop driving up and down in your cars. Be out on foot and patrole areas. Check people randomly for IDs and ask them what they are doing in the middle of the night, walking around. Come on man, try to prevent something from happening, rather than just reacting (and that in a poor way on top of everything).

     

  5. Anonymous says:

    Poster 12:10 you stated "I hope the police are prepared for Halloween" . 

    I don’t think so, the Police can not oversee everyone out there.  My advise to all would be stay your a## home and go steep early.  Turn your lights off and put your machette by your bed. 

    Parents don’t take your children out, you don’t know when these fools will start shooting. Cayman has come to this.

  6. Anonymous says:

     

    We are concerned what happened last week; I hope the police are prepared for Halloween, there will be several parties on the island with everyone looking exactly the same. Mark my words there will (unfortunately) be at least one shooting, couple robberies and a few home invasions (I do hope I’m wrong). There will be hundreds of persons on the streets dressed up in costumes some looking exactly the same and the police will not e able to identify anyone.  If I were the commissioner I would have every single police office on the road this night working these parties and if needed have some off the officers dressed up under cover. I would have road blocks all over the place. I will not be leaving my house or taking my children to any events this year.
    • Anonymous says:

      Costumes or not…..have the police caught one of the criminals yet???

  7. UniqueCommonSense says:
     

    Until our authorities (Immigration, Police and Courts) begin to join together via databases and communicate on a higher level, crime solving will continue to be reliance on the public, the scenario will always be ‘public nah saying nothing and police nah solving nothing’ .

     
    One foreign-national man told me during the summer time that the foreign-nationals say that when they get laid-off from their jobs  "they have children to feed, they are not going to leave this place and they are going to take it from anybody that have"    
     
    He went on further to say that  "wait til Christmas time, you haven’t seen anything yet" .  Which translate, in my mind,  to a few meanings: (1) they are not going back home when they are out of a job, (2) they will rob anybody they chose, (3) crime will significantly increase, and in my opinion (4)  this crime increase is a direct result of a few greedy, lazy-ass Caymanians looking for quick-cash AND a few foreign nationals that are still on a valid work permit but has been laid-off  from work  and Immigration nah doing F<>k-all!!!
     
    On the other hand, I hold Immigration and our govt fully responsible because they are SELLING work permits as a business, to generate revenue and have failed to legislate and enforce laws, legal obligations and sanctions against the Employers if they fail to properly advise / inform / report to the Immigration (in writing) those foreign persons that will be laid-off,  at least 2 weeks prior to the date, which of course would give Immigration time to process these individuals for return to their home and also to ensure that these individuals given time to make arrangements to leave.  They should also know that Immigration have been informed and are aware of their end of work & departure date.   At this time, they should also be finger printed and profiled, and statistics entered a central database that is shared between the Police and Immigration.
  8. Sad Caymanian in exile says:

    I thought McKeeva was the man with the plan. The man with a solution for every Caymanian problem. Well, he surely did make us Caymanians believe so when he was out there crying down Kurt and the PPM. He had a plan to deal with crime. Where is the plan now, McKeeva? The criminals are taking over Cayman. What are you doing about it? Don’t tell me you are just a lot of talk and no action. I fear for my relatives in Cayman. Your job, McKeeva, is to protect them but you are failing to do so. By the time you leave office, Cayman will be destroyed, McKeeva, because you are a man with no plan.

    • Anonymous says:

      Sad Caymanian in exile, how is it you expect within three months, that crime would be under control, you are obviously of the opinion that crime just sporadically happened, let me enlighten your darkness, any crime build happens because of a chain of events, may i add that these change of events couldn’t have occured in three months.

      • Anonymous says:

        You have missed the point. Whatever the original causes we do expect the new govt. to take action, propose initiatives etc. to address the crime problem. That is what we elected them to do: provide leadership, not give excuses.

        The funny thing is the UDP had no compunction about allocating the entire blame for the financial crisis on the PPM although that had been in the making for many years now because of the unsustainable revenue base and burgeoning population. It only required a severe recession to make it a reality.

        Incidentally, the new Govt. was elected on 20th May. Tomorrow will therefore be 5 months (not three) since they were elected. If half of the energy expended on waging a propaganda war against the PPM had been focussed on the crime problem there might actually be a plan by now.   

        • Anonymous says:

          And don’t forget…..McKeeva (UDP) also outrightly blamed the crime in this Country (which was minor compared to what’s going on now) directly on the PPM – I remember clearly during the election campaign they over and over again stated that the crime was the fault of the PPM…..no wonder they (UDP) are so quiet now – since obviously they are now the ones to blame!!

      • Sad Caymanian in exile says:

        You are missing the point, my friend. McKeeva promised Cayman "a better way forward". I heard him. I was home during the campaign. Every opportunity he had, he blamed poor, decent Kurt and the PPM for the increase in crime. He had a plan, he led us to believe. I am asking now where is the plan because it is quite that crime has worsened since McKeeva took office. The criminals have become bolder. Perhaps they see McKeeva as all talk and no action.

    • Anonymous says:

      It’s stupidness like this post that makes some Caymanians seems so ignorant, what the hell does McKeeva have to do with any of this, he is human just like all of us, and I’m sure he’s trying to help with finding ways to protect our Islands. We need to stop pointing the finger at everyone, and try to come together as a community. God bless this little Island.

    • Anonymous Proud Young Caymanian says:

      McKeeva is only one man, and instead of you or anyone else running down McKeeva we need to work work together and give our opinions. But the way i see it no one can help this little Island EXCEPT our lord and saviour JESUS CHRIST, and if the government dont know Christ and have a personal relationship with him then this island is doomed for distruction.Our soooooooooo RELIGIOUS Island has gone down the drain.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Until we are allowed to return fire, they will continue to fleece us like the sheep that we are.

    Because we are.

  10. CatMan says:

    re:9:31

    Kudos on a well thought out and logical plan. You are so right.  None of the other sh#@ makes a difference if we are a little Port au Prince.  Now we just have to convince the powers that be that long term planning, especially regarding the issue of gun violence,  is preferable to band-aides, illgotten taxes, name calling and inactivity.

  11. Anonymous says:

    Where is McKeeva Bush, the entire UDP, the Police and the Governor? Are they really so caught up in their own personal agendas they are completely oblivious to what is going on in this Country??!! Shame on you!! 

    • MIchael says:

      What can Government do? Hire more police? With what money? The problem is with with the values of our young peolpe, they dont care and they dont know the consequence of not caring. Drugs, drugs drugs, stop that and you stop much of the crime.

      Our heros are the guys on the patrol right now in the waters off the coast, the men and women at our airports scrutinizing potential dangers and the police that are on the front line saying, not tonight ,not on my watch. Lets support them, they are all we have !

      • Anonymous says:

        With what money? How about using mackeeva’s slush fund. XXX

        Get the police out of the comfy air conditioned cars and onto the streets, and make them do some work for a change. There should be a police officer on each street corner, on foot, in the whole of George Town. 30 should do it. Another 30, on foot, the length of7MB. If the RCIP is short of officers, hire them. Now.

        This is not difficult, (unless you are a greedy dumb-ass politician, UDP or PPM, there is no difference).

         

        • Anonymous says:

          At least this is a proposal, which is more than can be said for some posts.

          30 police on foot in George Town and 30 more along Seven Mile Beach at all times.  Let’s see, 60 more police times four shifts makes 240 more. Of course to maintain this level at all times will require about 12 more officers to cover ilnesses and vacations. So let’s hire 252 more police officers.

          Figure a conservative CI$50,000 per officer per year (salary, benefits, training, equipment, etc…) and the RCIPS would be looking at a mere CI$12.6 millon to implement this plan. That is a bit more that the much discussed "slush fund."

          Of course CI$50,000 may be too conservative. This plan could easily reach CI$15-20 milion or more.

          Are we willing to pay? That’s you and me. Caymanians and ex-pats.

  12. Anonymous says:

    Bob Daigle is to be admired for his efforts in encouraging self defence, but let’s be clear about what happened at Casanovas.

    The lady in question was already in her car, about to drive off. The assailant, gun in hand, knocked on her window and told her to wind it down. 

    He then asked for her purse. When she reached inside her bag on the passenger seat to get her purse (to her, purse meant the wallet inside the bag, not the whole bag), he then pressed the gun into her face.

    We are not talking about being alert as you walk to your car, this level of brazenness is taking things to a whole new level.

    Violent crime is now THE issue facing Cayman. Forget direct taxation, if we can’t (short term) stamp out what is going on now and (longer term) work on the root causes, the international business / investors will leave anyway.

    The rule of law comes above all else, if we don’t address this, and fast, all of the material gains Cayman and Caymanians have made in past decades will soon be wiped out… what do you think your land/house/business will be worth if nobody feels it is safe enough to live here ?

    What to do ?

    – The easy bit should be to identify who the criminals are, this is a small island, after all

    – Can the police gather evidence in a manner that can result in convictions ?

    – Does the crown prosecution service have the ability / resources to secure convictions ?

    – Will juries here actually convict in the face of evidence, particularly where the person in the dock is a Caymanian ?

    The first can be addressed, the last three seem somewhat intractable.. since Sheldon Brown, can anyone remember the last time a conviction involving gun possession or violence has been secured ?

    Last thought… remember who is responsible for police / justice systems in Cayman… the FCO/Governor. It seems to me that, in their machiavellian quest to drag Cayman down, they have worked out that the easiest way to do this is to leave these and other institutions without oversight… as, after all, elected officials have no say on this, only the Governors office… and, as per his ridiculous comments re Tempura, he now claims he had no oversight and simply left it to the civil service.

    Scary times…. sorry I have no solutions, just thoughts

     

     

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      ‘The rule of law comes above all else’.  Unfortunately, does not seem so……

      Hope this lady is recovering from this horrific experience.

  13. MIchael says:

    I bet if CNN reported that violence was growing aginst american tourist in Grand Cayman there would be a quick solution to the problem. Case in point, a young american Natalie Holoway’s disapearance in Aruba cost their comunity 100’s of millions of dollars of tourist revenue, just think what an armed robery and rape of an american tourist would do to the local economy. You thought the effect of 9/11 had a devistating consequences… oh man! These reporters will spin a story like that into a fear huricane.

    Will we get get these preditors before the big one comes? Most likley not and the reason why is police are not magicians and cant be everywhere at once, We cannot afford cammeras in every corner, and the judical system is bound by soft laws and "humanitarian prisions".

    I wish we could send these preditors to Castro’s prisions at half the price it cost us at Northward. I wish everybody would step forward and testify to put these people away, but the reality is we are helpless, this is not a movie where there is a happy ending ,this is the beging of becoming a violent society like Jamica. Lock you doors, watch your kids closley, say your prayers and hold on tight to your purses and wallets, the worst is yet to come.

  14. Tiger says:

    Cayman = Mini Jamaica.

    • Anonymous2 says:

      I felt safer in Jamaica.  At least there you know where not to go.  Grand Cayman, you can’t go to a night club… you can’t go to work…you can’t go out to eat…

      • Anonymous says:

        If you felt safer in Jamaica (post 11:12)  then why are you here? As bad as things have become in Cayman, it is nothing compared to the crime and violence of living in Jamaica.

        • Missin Depoint says:

          Uh, read what they wrote –

          They felt safer in Jamaica because they knew to avoid.  Here you never know.  Clubs – out, Minmart – out, Restaurant – out, Your driveway – out, In the house – out.  

          The criminals are making a joke of the system and the system is turning into a complete FARCE.  

           

          • Anonymous says:

            I agree…..soon we will be the prisoners because we will be too afraid to go out. Cayman is also so small that the probability of being a victim is substantially higher. I bet if the #’s are run, our crime rate (population:crime)  will exceed Jamaica’s.

            It’s time for Gov’t/Police to put a stop to this because god knows if I get stopped for speeding when crime is this bad, I am likely to end up in jail for cursing out the officer!! I know that sounds bad but on Friday when crime was taking place, I saw two parked cop cars just waiting to give out tickets.

          • Anonymous2 says:

            Thank you missin Depoint.  Some people just interpret what they want and don’t read. By the way, to the other poster, I’m Caymanian so I guess you can’t send me off on Cayman Airways or any other airline.  Not by paper I might add. Original settlers’ descendant.

            Grand Cayman has a major problem and it’s sad that people are scared to go anywhere because they don’t know when they will be attacked.

             

        • Jamaican says:

          Don’t exaggerate. Jamaica is the only place that will ever be like Jamaica. If there was not such a deep hatred of Jamaicans in Cayman, or of black people in general, you Caymanians would know that.

  15. Anonymous says:

    It makes one wonder if the politicians think that they are above the crime struggle in the country and are too busy dealing with the "important" issues facing Cayman. If that is the mistaken case let me assure every politician that crime is destroying the fabric of the country now and there is nothing more important to deal with here now..

  16. Anonymous says:

    Here’s a challenge to the Leader and members of hte opposition.  Arrange a demonstration.   The people are sick and tired and now we are afraid as well.  We ALL have to work hard to earn a living.  For most of us there are no hand outs and most of us don’t want a hand out.  What we want is for the Police to do their jobs, stop guns and drugs coming in, clean up the Immigration mess, send out of work people home.  Find jobs for unemployed Caymanians.  Make it safe for our people, especially our youth to be out and about.  We don’t want any more of our young people, or anyone else,  to die as the result of stupid, senseless violence.  We need to show Govt., Police, Immigration that we are not prepared to put up with this anymore.  It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, you don’t deserve to be gunned down in the street by an gun carrying idiot. 

    It is our money being wasted.  We have a large number of Police per head and they seem to be utterly useless.  I don’t know what the solution is.  I’m not a Police Officer but maybe start by putting the 15 known gangsters under 24 hour survellance until you catch them. Who cares if they know they arebeing watched.  If they know they’re being watched, they cant commit any crimes.  Set up an education programme in the schools against Gangs, guns, drugs  and violence.  Let our young people start to realise what happens in this type of environment.  EVERY LAW ABIDING CITIZEN IN TEH CAYMAN ISLANDS, NEEDS TO DEMONSTRATE (PEACEFULLY) TO THE AUTHORITIES THAT WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS WASTE OF OUR MONEY ANYMORE.  We want Cayman back and we should ALL be prepared to work together to stop this senseless violence..

  17. Anonymous says:

     The more success these wannabe gangstas have, the bolder they will become and the more others will seek to emulate them.  Something must be done now to nip this in the bud or it will be too late.  To those who say this happens in any US city – yes it does, but not normally in the central business district at a reasonable hour.  The issue here is a lack of visible policing – we have around 300 police officers, a huge number for an island of 50,000 people.  And yet most of them seem to be either stuck behind desks or employed catching folks speeding.  If the government wants to make some money from traffic offenses, invest in a few mobile speed cameras or traffic light cameras like they do in other countries.  Don’t divert our valuable police resources that should be directed toward catching the real criminals and stopping Cayman spiraling into the abyss.

    • No success to these so called  human beings, they do not deserve the time that we confer about them, they do not belong amongst us, they belong in some area fenced of  with razor sharp wire, sharp broken glasss and electrical wires to shock the crap out of them if they ever try to escape. Treat them like they are treating us, put fear in them. I think that the government should allow the police to arm themselves and allow the public to have pepper spray or mace, we need protection and we need it NOW. The governor and his croonies are doing a good job in their effort to destroy us, by not allowing the police to have arms to stop this reign of terror, or  do they think that the more of this we have the faster we will fall. Governor, Premier,RCIP get off your duffs and do something.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Something needs to be done soon about this growing problem.  It won’t go away on its own.  Grand Cayman is a gem,please don’t let it be ruined by a very, very small criminal minority.  CRACK DOWN right away!  What is it with these descriptions that they give out of the perpetrators?  Are they kidding?  Do the want to catch these people or not?

    Government / Police / Citizens :  Please do something to correct this terrible development.  The problem is escalating quickly and must be addressed.  

    Thanks. 

  19. Anonymous says:

    Unfortunately, the price development pays is increase in crime rates.

    But, as the economic climates continues to decline, jobs are laid off.

    The foreigners who are fired (not all…) who moved here for a specific reason are not going to leave over the end to their job. They’re just going to stay and commit to crime.

  20. Anonymous says:

     I always travelled to GC because I felt safe, felt I could go anywhere without a hassle, drive all over the island without any fears. I even felt safe in the night clubs. I remember I used to brag to people back home how the island was so safe and crime free that the radio would report whensomeone would steal watermelons out of a neighbor’s garden.

    What I have been reading can and does take place in other parts of the world, but I never thought it would extend to GC where the people are so wonderful and the sea is so inviting.  The loss of life taking place, the dangerous crimewave that is out of control and seems to be daily.  It is creating fear to so many people which is very disheartening. 

    I wish there were some answers on how to get this under control…for the people who make Cayman home and for the tourists who love to holiday there.

     

     

  21. Joe Average says:

    To the poster who wants to move.  Where to?  Name a place where people aren’t undergoing the same.  And have been?  One advantage:  this is an island.  EVERYTHING is imported.  How do the guns get here?? Either by mail or freight.  Does the mail undego scrutiny?  Is it x-rayed?  Are there dogs available?  What process do containers go through?  I know there are an enormous amount of them.  But they are broken down into individual shipments.  Dogs and/or x-ray must be made available to Customs.  Again…where are the thugs getting their guns?  They have to arrive here somehow they aren’t falling from the sky.  Someone has to make the arrangements.  Someone has to pick them up.  At the same time we have to all become more watchful.  I mean of ourselves and each other. Or we will quickly turn into Port O Spain where the public is protected by heavily armed police on the corners an Eye in the Sky is installed and jeeps patrol the streets.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      To Joe Average.

      Yes, this type of crime is happening everywhere but, at least in some places, the police are efficient, effective and tough.  For whatever reason, our police are totally ineffectual.  It is the sense of chaos, of loss of control, that has people really frightened.   If I’m going to live with crime, I’d like to know that the police have at least a chance of catching the bad guys.  I want to know that, if I call them, the police will show up (within a reasonable period of time) and try to do something about it.  We are a little island – why aren’t the criminals being arrested, charged and convicted? 

    • Lachlan MacTavish says:

      Like many Caymanians and residents I am shocked and saddened at the level of crime in such a small country. For 40 years I have been intimately involved with my country from within and afar. Robberies and acts of violence have rocketed over the last 5 years into a zone that I never thought appeal in Cayman. Parenting, neighborhood patrols, turn criminals in, stronger sentences, remove AL guns from the small environment and racket up the police force until the criminals are eradicated to a normal level……whatever that level may be. Wake up all because thinking that someone else is going to take control of your home land is not the answer. Crunch time……take control of this issue or loose tourism, create a further gap between the classes and watch more innocent  people get hurt, tramatized  or killed.

  22. Shaun Ebanks says:

    Plain & Simple Wendy and Nicky !!!

    The RCIPS "High Command" have adopted their so called strategic crime fighting policies/ initatives they are flawed from the UK and are INCOMPATIBLE AND AN ABSOLUTE FAILURE for the Cayman Islands.

    I know some people must be saying that my comments/posts must sound like an old eight track tape player, (repetitive) but I will continue to say it until positive change comes about to deal firmly, adequately and appropriately with the vicious crimes that have seized the Cayman Islands today.

    Police actions over the past years have not appropriately targeted real criminals and it’s going to be ten times harder to curb the violence now.

    What is going to happen when one of these brazen criminals kill a tourist(s) vacationing in Cayman and the US State Department or the victim(s) country of origin, issue a travel warning like they do in other jurisdictions when their citizens are murdered, robbed and victimized ??  

    Very soon, offences/crimes against the person eg. Robberies will surpass crimes against properties such as Thefts and Burglaries etc.

    The remaining good police officers whom have decided to try and stick it out in the service are "absolutely overwhelmed" to deal with the escalation of serious crimes in Cayman. They are seeking direction and there seems to be none forthcoming from their leaders. The left hand dosen’t seem to have a clue what the right hand is doing and it’s somehow like a strange chicken whom is upright but going around in circles without a head.

    The answer to the problems is not to bring in more "retired UK police officers" and pay them a fat salary to overdose themselves in sea, sand, sun, fun and drink in the Caribbean. That is not the answer Cayman.

    What we should be doing is completely changing our offensive strategy and create about eight (6) groups of fully equipped police/customs/immigration officers (8-10 per group) and with what intelligence they do have, hit the streets day/night and knock down doors off their hindges simultaneously amongst other things.

    Don’t tell me it can’t be done, we did it with a whole lot less against the major gang bosses who emerged before and after Hurricane Ivan and sercured the convictions to prove it. There was no $30 million dollars extra in our budget back then neither.Thanks to leaders like Derek Haines who never sat on his ass but led his officers forward and did not allow himself to be overwhelmed by the bureaucracy from the UK, that has stiffled crime fighting in the Cayman Islands today. 

    Search everywhere and everyone and conduct observations at the various premises/locations of the criminals, to include their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandpa’s, grandma’s, cousins, aunts and uncles whom are "cloking" their CRIMINAL OFFSPRING into a life of crime and profiting from it as well. Many of these family members live at the same location as the criminals which is ideal for charges of "aiding and abeting, conspiracy, being concerned, accessory before and after the fact" etc etc. 

    There is too much "PUSSY FOOTING" from the Gold Command of the RCIPS today and it has got to STOP and STOP NOW !!!!

     

    • Anonymouse says:

      We need to get rid of the 1-800 number that rings in Miami and elsewhere.

      The RCIPS has to get off their rear ends and start policing and investigating.

      Sitting in offices waiting on the Public to do their work for them is just not working, furthermore no one trusts this so called anonymous phone line because it is not anonymous in any shape or form. Every phone call can be traced back to the number and hence the caller. Give the callers number to a criminal and some one or their home gets shot up.

      We are in deep trouble in these islands and unless we make drastic changes to the way the Police presently work things are only going to get worse.

  23. Anonymous says:

     While the populace is crying out—in fact, screaming—for a proportionate response to Cayman’s crime wave from the Governor, Police Commissioner David Baines, or our elected representatives, none has been forthcoming.

    We continue to get entreaties for the public "to step forward" or, in recent days (despite the Newlands murder and the Treasure Island, Margaritaville and Casanova armed robberies), silence.

    There appears to be no sense of urgency whatsoever. The Legislative Assembly votes to arm Customs officers (big deal!) when we all know it should be the police who need to be carrying guns.

    As a short-term measure, Commissioner Baines should immediately suspend ALL traffic-related enforcement, eliminate parking-ticket details, and redirect all police resources to visibly patrolling downtown George Town—day and night. In case someone hasn’t noticed, the burglary rate in that central district is astronomical.

    Every night club which has a large population of tourists needs to have a uniformed police presence as well as known "trouble spots," whether tourists or locals make up their clientele.

    In my view, Cayman has only two major assets that fuel its economic engine: Seven Mile Beach and the safety and security of our community. The latter is rapidly slipping away and the hope that the "foreign media" won’t pick up on this is neither a plan nor a policy.

    As a reminder, one of the governor’s few enumerated responsibilities is to oversee the security of these islands.

    His recent propensity to "govern by press release" is totally self-serving, cowardly, irresponsible and inappropriate for times as serious as these.

    The good people of the Cayman Islands, including the professional business community, have been far too tolerant of this governor’s behavior. We need to start screaming, individually and collectively, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to the world press. The Compass, Cayman Net News, "Cayman Crosstalk," and, yes, even Cayman News Service are totally ineffectual media if the goal is to effect meaningful results.

    One suggestion for Government: Beginning Monday, refuse to pay the governor’s salary. Force the crisis. The world press will take it from there.

    • Anonymouse says:

      Sorry to say this but our local policing is operated like a business.

      Everything depends on the bottom line.

      So long as the police bring in money by way of traffic tickets they are considered to be doing a great job. In other words earning their salaries.

      Money seems to be foremost in our way of policing and solving crimes are dead last on the list.

      Drunk drivers are easy targets as they can easily be identified.

      A gunman on the other hand is dangerous and a threat to the Police so they are allowed to do as they like, escape to a safe distance after which the Police will come in, rope off an area, waste some time looking around and then issue press release for the Public to take over and solve the problem for them.

  24. Anonymous says:

    Close circuit TV.  In car parks.  In George Town.  On the main roads.  Reduction in gun crime.  Easy.

  25. Bob Daigle says:

    Please take notice of your surroundings at all times.

    1. Be aware of people around you. Walk confidently, with a purpose.

    2. Look around the area before you enter your car.

    3. Have your keys in your hands before you get to your car.

    4. Don’t talk on your cell phone as you are walking to your car. Your mind will be in code white and be zoned out to your surroundings.

    5. Predators seek easy unsuspecting victims. Don’t make it easier for them.

    This is the second armed robbery this week on women. First Treasure Island now this.

    It is sad that crime is so bad that we are forced to live like we live in a major US city.

    Cayman Keep your eyes and ears open!!!

    • Anonymous says:

      And Cayman keep your ears & eyes open for screams for help or what is going on anddo what you can do (in any way) .  Can we please put up plenty, plenty, plenty NEIGHBOUR HOOD WATCHS and stop be uncerned about our neighbours and what is going on with them . Please abort this attitude this attitude of "its not my business" and "as long as they do not come in my yard or on my turf". 

       

      We do not know who will be next, if we do not do everything we can do.  Report crime and do not stop screaming until somebody(capable) come to your aid with a solution.

  26. Anne Bonny says:

    Hmm…we certainly cannot depend on our police force/service(whatever) to deal with crimes, drug-related or otherwise, they’re busy with traffic violators.  Come on folks, be fair (LOL) –  how would you feel if you’re expected to wash the dishes on top of cooking the food?

    I read in one of CNS’s posts that a certain police officer’s unit deals with traffic and not with wannabe gangstas,  that’s why he’s not engaged with criminals and criminal activities.  Well, good for him.

    But what about the other units?  or is  the police dept. only hasthe one unit – Traffic?  It seems it’s the only one busy, or maybe,  if there’s other units,  the officers are also asleep with their feet up on the desk – sort of – "if the expats can do it,  why can’t I"?

    We also cannot depend on our leaders and gov’t officials to act on these problem because they’re busy balancing the checque book, right?  Have we heard a peep from Mac d Bull regarding the escalating crimes, anybody?

     

    Maybe it’s time to empower ourselves by being awake, alert, and anticipating that these could happen to us, too.  Especially those who have kept their mouths silent if they know anything – I’m afraid their motto could be – "this too, will pass"!

    As the song goes, "…oh, for the times they are a-changing."

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  27. these times call for different measures says:

    Would it be a different scenario if persons committing crimes knew that should the police force walk in on them they could be shot…..our police force should be armed! Why would any criminal be scared? ….of what  or whom?

  28. Anonymous says:

    Every day another robbery, another crime and we hear the same thing that the police are investigating the incident, anyone who has information to give, etc…..There must literally be hundreds and hundreds of "ongoing investigations" that the police are dealing with.  I don’t know if it makes sense to blame the police or the politicians or parents – the bottom line is that we, the people, just don’t see any answers, we don’t see any plans or reaction from our leaders that helps build the confidence that we need to eleviate our fears and to trust again.  We are getting more withdrawn into our lives and worried about our security instead of trying to get on board in a very difficult economic time and to continue to participate in our community. 

    The other posters are right, we do hear the same things over and over again, but when is some in a position of responsibility for public safety and governance going to stand up for us the public? 

    My sincere sympathies go out for the business owners that are suffering and their staff and this woman who got attacked – it must be an awful experience and at the end of the day, it costs – either time to put their lives and businesses back in place or emotionally to recover from the trauma brought about by the such violent acts.  Who pays for this?  Who cares?

    This recent crime wave is conducted by bold,  brazen individuals who certainly give the impression that they are confident they will not get caught, and have little or no consideration as to how their actions will effect other people or the home we share with them, the Cayman Islands. We’re naturally concerned about the effect sensationalised crime represented to our tourists and how this effects our image externally, but I am equally concerned how this violence and gun crime is effecting my quality of life and my sense of security and confidence. 

    Can someone please help us?

    • Anonymous says:

      Our quality of life is disappearing.  In 27 years of living in Cayman, I have never been afraid, never worried for my safety.  All that has changed, in the last 6 months.  For the first time, I actually think about leaving.  I love Cayman – it is my home – but if I can’t feel safe here, I may have to leave.  How many other people (expat AND Caymanian) are thinking the same thing?

      • Anonymous says:

        I know how you feel.  I am in my third year and when I first arrived was overjoyed at how safe it was.   I dropped a wallet out of a taxi and the finder played an ad on a Christian radio station and returned it to me.

        Can we go back to the Cayman that I knew then, not this environment caused, no doubt, by a small group of losers.

        Is there more we can do in regards of Neighbourhood Watch, help the police to lock these idiots up?

         

      • Anonymous says:

        Leave to go where?   True, Cayman is not as it used to be, but is anywhere else in the world the same as it used to be?  Doubt it.  Sad to hear people wanting to ‘run away’ – stand and fight and do something proactive for these Islands you call ‘home’. Let’s just all be scared, ‘give up’ and let the baddies take over.  Isn’t that exactly what they want?  One lady on Walkers Road didn’t ‘give up’.

  29. Anonymous says:

    Perhaps we need to get some metal detectors as they are doing in Scotland

    See article

    • Anonymous says:

      These blade / weapon detectors could be taken out and about with police and used to identify who is carrying. 

  30. Anonymous says:

    Blah, Blah, Blah…Everytime there is a robbery thread the same people write the same comments and nothing seems to get done. Most people are really only worried about themselves and don’t really care as long as it happens to someone else.

    I hoped the murder of Estella would light a fire in Cayman about the violence but even that tragedy seems to have passed.

    How many people are living in silent fear on Grand Cayman Island? I think that you’d be surprised.

  31. Anonymous says:

    I cannot ever remember a week, where there has been so much crime on Caymans streets. Murders, break-ins, armed robbery appear to becoming the norm.

    My question is, what the hell are the authorities doing about it? Mr Governor, Mr Bush, the Cayman Government and the Police. What is going on? What are you doing to resolve these issues? Cayman was at one time a crime free, safe beautiful island, which was the envy of the world, not just the region.

    We are completely losing the Rule of Law under your stewardship. Do something about this, before it is too late. If you do not feel you are ‘ up to this task’, you must let someone else do it !!!!

    It is now only a matter of time, before a tourist is targetted and the world wide media advertise the incident around the world. DO SOMETHING, NOW!!!!!! THIS MUST NOT BE TOLERATED!!!!!!

  32. 007 For Sure says:

    One  thing we need to do is start getting rid of the hundreds of people who are out of a job and still on island .Look into all the w/p holders who got laid off tom jones 2 big  job sites have all them been relocatd some where i dont think so . that is only one person i speak of .I have a mutual frind who was on one of those job sites and was laid off he have been from east end to west bay and cant find a job at NO construction site .I told him he need to go home .

    • Anonymous says:

      Great idea assuming its only out of work foreigners committing all the crime, but what if its locals also, then what should we do? Kick them of the island to?

      I say if the police actually start doing there job and start catching some of these A-holes, which might be a good start don’t you think?

      If the criminal element in society realizes they can commit crimes, and get away with it repeatedly, where is the incentive to stop? It’s like a stray dog that hangs around your house, you want him the get lost yet you keep leaving food around the house for him to eat,

       

      • Twyla Vargas says:

        COMMENTS 13:15  You have some very valid points,  Who is commiting the crimes we dont know.  If it is locals or foreigners there is a place here for them called HMNP. 

        However overstayers should leave.  Simple, if you are in another man,s home and he do not want you there,  I would have some common decency and leave.   Anyone who is in Cayman and have overstayed their time and dont want to leave, just dont have any shame.    I would be embarassed to put myself in such a situation and it does not matter where the person is from

    • Twyla Vargas says:

       COMMENTS 11:24,  You are absolutely correct, we should be sending hoe those persons who does not have a job.  However, I am sorry to say but the immigration department are giving long extensions to these persons..  Even persons who have lost their residents through marriage is allowed to stay on and work for months.  I think it is a waste of time making these request.  Before Ifelt alarmed and sad about these robberies, but now I see it does not make sence to comment about them, because they Are taking place from  sun up to sun set, and no one is being caught.  So the only advice  would give the public is "Stay home ya yard"  Invite friends over on weekends and socialize at home,  Every body bring a dish.  When someone is leaving make sure two or three persons walk them to their car.  Then again it makes me wonder what are some business places doing with over a hundred thousand dollars on hand to be robbed.  Only God knows what is going on in this place.  It maybemore than we think.

  33. Anonymous says:

    What the heck is going on in Cayman , you have a population of approx 48,000 , the whole island is about 100 square miles – it is an island so it aint easy to escape or enter  – what are the police doing – it cannot be hard to deal with this .

    You are not going to have a tourist industry if this continues – its only a matter of time before a tourist is seriously hurt or worse and when that happens you can wave bye bye to Caymans reputation .

  34. When are we going to start tipping of the police on these thugs, anyone that knows and there is a lot of you that know who has these weapons, we the Joe public have to start being more alert.

  35. Anonymous says:

    Cayman must make it clear that violent crime will not be tolerated, especially around GT and SMB.

    • Anonymous says:

      How?  Cayman is powerless to do anything,  The criminals see the sheep standing about, same as you do.

    • Anonymous says:

      our government we put  them there to take care of us and we buiness people has been strugling for so many years. we go out and work all day to pay our bills and at the end of the day sameone is just waiting on you to finnish work to take what you made. our government keeds to give buiness owners at lease, a licen protection to take care of themselves because if the theives and robers know that the buiness is licen to carry a licen protection they will think twice about robing a buiness place that is one thing that our government should seriosley look at, take for instants any other countrys you go all police officers, custom offocers, and buiness owners carry a licen protection  even in some houses you will find licen protection the problem is our government don’t have to worry because they are driven around by police officers and secretary. mr bush you especialy needs to adress this issue thanks.