Gun crime persists in amnesty
(CNS): There have been nine reported crimes involving the use of firearms since the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service started its no-questions-asked gun amnesty, which ends at 7:00pm tonight (Thursday 10 June). From armed robberies at liquor stores and gas stations to street robberies and home invasions, Cayman’s criminal element seemed too busy using their weapons to bring them in. The police will be revealing the total quantity and type of weapons collected during the amnesty tomorrow, but despite their best efforts and a high profile campaign there appears to have been a surge in the number of gun crimes committed over the last few weeks. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)
The first crime involving a gun following the start of the amnesty was the shooting of a 50-year-old George Town man outside his home on Tuesday, 18 May. The man was shot in the shoulder by a gunman dressed in all black who appeared at his doorstep in Cruz Lane at around 11pm. So far no one has been arrested in connection with the crime, which the police said they were treating as attempted murder.
The following night an armed robbery took place at the Food 4 Less store by Foster’s Airport. The offender used a modified flare gun, which exploded during the incident although the robber still escaped with cash.
On 25 May a woman was mugged as she walked along the West Bay road by Queens Court Plaza in the early hours of the morning. A masked man threatened her with a handgun before grabbing her handbag and making off in what appeared to be a white or silver car.
Then in the early hours of Wednesday, 26 May, a local business man was robbed of his night’s takings at gunpoint outside his home in Crew Road by a robber who had appeared to lay in wait for him. A masked man armed with a gun threatened the businessman before grabbing the bag of cash he was holding and running off towards Ryan’s Retreat. The suspect was described as being 6’1” in height, slim build with a light brown complexion. He was wearing a grey hooded shirt and long dark pants. The suspect’s face was hidden by a plastic mask.
In the early hours of Monday, 31 May, a victim was reportedly robbed in the area of Point Four Street off South Church Street by two armed men, who forced their way into his house. The victim stated that the two men had what appeared to be a shotgun and a hand gun, and while no shots were fired and no one was injured, the victim and his son were held at gunpoint as the offenders demanded money. They were given an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene.
Then on in the evening of Thursday, 2 June, at least two armed and masked gunmen robbed the On the Run ESSO gas station in Red Bay. The men reportedly entered the gas station carrying handguns and threatened staff before making off with the cash.
Five days later another ESSO station on Seven Mile Beach was robbed by a man and a woman at around 1:20am on Monday, 7 June. The criminal duo, who were caught on CCTV, forced staff in the gas station store to lay on the floor at the point of a gun as they stole money from the till and personal possessions.
That same night at around 10pm three young men armed with a hand gun robbed the George Town Burger King. A member of staff was injured when one of the gunmen hit her with his gun as the three robbers, also caught on CCTV, left the store with an undisclosed sum of cash.
Then finally this morning (10 June) another ESSO gas station – Delworth On the Run in George Town — was held up by a masked gunman, who stole the till and escaped in a bluish van. The man had stolen the vehicle at gunpoint earlier in the night from a woman in Windsor Park.
Police have said recently that they do not believe any of the robberies are connected, and although arrests were made recently in connection with a robbery at the Tortuga liquor store in Passadora Place in which the culprits were armed with machetes, so far police have not revealed any arrests in connection with any of the gun crimes.
Anyone who may have any information in connection with any of the crimes is asked to call 949-4222 or crime stoppers at 800-8477.
Category: Headline News
It will only get worse from here..changing market,squeeze on banks,less US spenders,changing demographics and changing climate lead to the fact that this is going to get worse…far worse for Cayman. We are all focusing on the US or the P.I.I.G.S in europe but they have something going forard after deep cuts. Cayman as little or nothing to bring to the table in the long term.
There have been
eightnineten reported crimes involving the use of firearms.1. shooting of a 50-year-old George Town man outside his home on Tuesday, 18 May.
Fingerprinting all of a group for the purposes of police use without reference to a specific crime is illegal and contrary to the Government’s existing human rights obligations.
Gun amnesty??? get-mi-break!!! Which criminal that have gun, presumably paid lots of cash for it, went to the risk of importing it into d island, is presumably using it in robberies to make more cash, n probably has used it (fired – discharged) in previous crimes and d police has a bullet to match against d gun. REALLY NOW, d police really expect such criminals to be such IDIOTS???
RCIPS need to hire some criminals to assist their very own in catching other criminals otherwise RCIPS won’t catch XXXXX !!!
These ruthless and bold criminals are all showing the RCIPS and the Cayman Islands as a whole "what their true 10 year plan is all about"
As a believer in the SDA religion, I just dont understand why they are involved in the collection of guns. It would be more useful if each member of all the churches took these neglected , latch keyed children before they become thugs and assist them in whatever way they can. I am not only a believer in the religion but a bekiever in PREVENTION RATHER THAN CURE. We should all learnt by now that the cure is COSTLY.
I know you can buy your drivers licence up there.
Fingerprint each and every person entering these islands and get a good reliable database going so that when crimes are committed and fingerprints are taken from the crime scene these criminals can be caught and justice can be served. Alot of criminals commit crimes just before leaving the island and all the loot is taken back with them. The Government need to be more pro-active when considering an application for prospective police officers as well as I have good reason to believe there may be a few criminals wearing the police uniform. Extensive background checks from reliable sources should be obtained for all applicants who want to come here and "protect and serve".
Are you going to fingerprint all Caymanians too?
Too bad you can’t get the criminals to give up THEIR guns!
You got to realize that: –
The Amnesty gives the criminals an "assurance" that if an allegation is made against them, they can always during the time of Amnesty wipe their guns clean and have someone hand it in; or, they are assured that the service is relaxed and sleeping during the time
Gun amnesties have no impact on preventing crime. It just gives some peace of mind to middle class anti-crime campaigners.