West Bay restaurant robbed
(CNS): Update Friday 11:00am – The RCIPS has issued descriptions of the armed robbers who targeted a popular waterfront restaurant in West Bay on Thursday evening at around 8pm but offered no new details. Sources told CNS last night that two armed men robbed Alfresco’s Restaurant on Town Hall Road a little after 8pm, some two hours after a pizza parlour was robbed in George Town. Both suspects are described as being around 5’10” in height and of slim build. One had a fair complexion and was wearing jeans, the other a dark complexion and dark pants. Both had shirts covering their faces. The robbers reportedly fled the restaurant on foot after threatening staff and taking cash but it is understood no one was hurt during the incident and no shots were fired. CNS also understands that a local mini-mart in the district may also have been robbed. (Photo by Dennie Warren Jr)
Category: Headline News
what this country needs is a hard nose, don’t mess with type of cop who grew up through the ranks by getting dirty in the mud, been either shot at, shot, stabbed, threatened and not the usual nice business like cops runningit from the country side of England where alot of cozy white folks live. these guys sent down here don’t understand the ruthless caribbean mentality and the only persons that understand this are your own; nuff said about that.
I agree, lets make Bubba Jay Premier for a few months, then make him AG for another few. Maybe he will clean up all the mess in the island, including crime, the economy, un-employment and all the others.
Why don’t we just send him to Cuba?
Commissioner David Baines doesn’t need to resign he has seen the problems with the RCIPS and acknowledged them. What we don’t get is that one man didn’t create this problem,it didn’t arise overnight it was a long time in the making. Over the years the RCIPS has ran away from or backed off of issues that required the use of force. We are just reaping the rewards of these years of ineffective policing. He could if he wanted to put an end to this reign of violence but for what ever reasons [which is his own business ] chooses not to.Also he can’t fix the problems with the RCIPS in one term serving as commissioner. It is what it is.
Can we make Bubba Jay be in charge of this country for 60 days?
Seems he has the intestinal fortitude to get the job done!!!!!
And he has proposed a very workable solution.
I have noted whereby some persons are asking for the resignation of the Commissioner of RCIP, but I am also wondering if that will change anything if he is replaced.
I dont think the Commissioner is the reason we are having these robberies, nor is the police. What we need to realize is that the police has to also follow proceedures in tackling crime. Too many times I have seen it happen when the police get tough and have to "drape up them backside" the same people who said the police "nuh doin nutin" run to politician, Leader,peacher an Governor an report abuse.
We need to stop building a wall between us and the police, because no matter how much you may think the police is there to protect and serve, "Enough is Enough"
I have seen Commissioners come, and I have seen comissioners go, and most of them have had "Plane door slam on their fingers". But the question is, will we find the perfect one. If we do…… "something is wrong", because no one is perfect to every one. My suggesion is, that we call on the commissioner, go see him and share our thoughts on making things work.
"If he nuh waan listen te uh, den mi nuh have anoda wud te say"
I might be wrong but it seems to me there is a strange lack of panic from the RCIPS and leadership of this country. This "crime wave" has been going on now for a few years. The murder, mugging, burglary, rape and armed robbery rates must be shocking, especially for such a small community, and we know the police clearance rate for these crimes is tiny.
So where are the announcements? Where are the public meetings, the crackdowns and new strategies, the assurance that everything possible is being done? I’ve seen none of that.
Where are the random stop and searches? Why isn’t the door of every wanna-be gangster being kicked in at dawn? Why not keep an eye on the young unemployed Caymanian males…where are they getting their money? And what about young unemployed men that aren’t Caymanian…what are they doing here? What’s in their passports? A couple of road blocks and beat police doing random stops might answer a few of these questions and provide the public with some reassurance.
All I see is RCIPS officers talking on their cell phones and ignoring everyone except pretty girls. There is nothing to suggest they are even trying to stop this, and nothing from the politicians to show they are putting pressure on the commissioner to fix the problem.
It is starting to look like the authorities have surrendered to the criminals. That’s fine but they might need to reassign some police officers to processing firearms licence applications.
I trust that no one will blog that these robberies are a result of un-employment. These robberies are being done by ruthless, gutless, cowardly and criminal minded persons who take pleasure and find comfort in feeding off of fear and intimidation of innocent people.
These kind of persons- are NOT employable and the Government must now, without delay amend whatever Laws necessary to ensure that they are locked away for the remainder of their lives.
May I suggest that as a starting point- there be a MANDATORY 30 year sentence for any person caught with un-licensed ammunition or a firearm and if the ammunition and firearm are used to commit an offence that a MANDATORY 30 years be added on to the first penalty to be served CONSECUTIVELY.
To add to the penalty- we need to seek the assistance from another country (Cuba comes to mind) to house the prisoners in that jurisdiction so that they are removed from their own society. I am sure that what we would pay Cuba to maintain the convicts are alot less than what it is costing th country to house them at Northward. By doing this, Northward can be used for lesser crimes such as drugs etc.
I accept that this comment may attract alot of thumbs down and thats fine- but it will not deter me from saying this again. However, it is hoped that the comment will attract a few thumbs up as well.
Well the rate tings going now – we gunna soon need a MAXIMUM security PRISON rather than just a maximum security BLOCK!!
Make room NWP – let the petty criminals out send them on house arrest and let ’em do mandatory community service!!! Cuz right now we need all the space we can get to house the little FOPS dat shoot people head off like they believe they playing a video game!!!
BS!! LOCK ‘EM UP DON’T CARE HOWOLD DEH IS!!! LOCK ‘EM ALL UP!!!
I noticed that someone put a comment in that is rather obvious. Criminals dont commit a crime then retire. If they are not caught they commit more crimes. Heck even if they are caught. What I would like to see happen is two fold
First if someone is caught that is not from the Cayman Islands. Serve your time then deported with a ban not allowed back for an extended period of time. We dont need to bring problems from other countries here. If you are a law biding citizen from overseas fine.
Second if a person is caught commiting crimes repeatedly then the sentence should increase. Commit one burglary 1 year for example you commit another then 3 years. This will take repeat offenders off the roads. The only problem is that the country will feed and cloth them for years.
With regards to guns in your homes. Normally I would not support the idea but this is a solution that residents are going to take if our police dont solve the problem. And please no silly comments about defending buglars from being shot while committing crimes.
Though I share your frustration, we already have stiff penalties for these offenses. The thing is that you could make the penalties life in prison and still not solve the problem because the problem is not the penalty it is the enforcement. With the police "solving" less than 25% of these crimes and getting few convictions of those "solved" the criminals just have no fear of getting caught.
Even when the RCIP have information before hand the have failed to prevent/solve these crimes effectively.
They are a complete failure but still refuse to let people have the means necessary to protect themselves due to ideology and pride.
I’ll vote for Bubba Joe next election! 🙂
Where we came from, Brother, if one did not want to live in poverty, you either became a priest or a bandit….you chose your way…and I chose mine…
Hence the need for visa’s
And just where did you came from T.B.P.J.M.R.??
BTY one choice leads to heaven, an the other to hell.
There are some people with guns, and some people who dig, Tuco
You dig
Go back to where you come from, Brother, and become Brother Tuco and not Bandit Tuco.
I recently read a very interesting article about Cuba, and one of the issues that was discussed was why there is such a high police presence at all hours in the streets of Havana. It was explained that the aim in Cuba is to PREVENT crime as much as possible, rather than investigating it after it happened.
The average thief, robber, rapist and murderer is a male between the ages of 20 and 35.
Part of this PREVENTION plan is random ID checks are carried out when a few males fitting that stereotype huddle around in the same area. Call backs are being made to verify immigration status, prior arrests etc.
Yes, I know that this is a contoversialconcept, but at this stage I figure that people who do not have anything to hide would not mind to be caught in random checks. We’ve got to do something!
Also, I am seeing still seeing loads of cars driving around the Island that have their windows tinted so dark that you don’t even know if a human or horse is driving this vehicle. If I see those cars, how come the police isn’t? Aren’t they breaking the law????
COMISSIONER BAINES:
Baines WHY ARE WE STILL SEEING DARK TINTED CARS DRIVING THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD.?
I have a suggestion regarding these dark-tinted cars, which it seems the police are oblivious to (forget the polygraphs, try doing eyesight tests!) and that is to require the removal of the pieces of glass (at the owner’s expense) in question to be submitted as evidence in court.
The second suggestion is for the RCIPS to set up a desk manned by a clerk to receive information (number plates) about cars the public sees that are clearly illegally tinted. The clerk then tracks down the home location of the car in question, an alert list is given out to patrols, and the next time the car is spotted, see the first paragraph. This isn’t rocket science, surely. You could readily get volunteers from the public I’d have thought.
Is there anything impractical or illegal about the above? Please tell me if there is as I might be being hugely naive, and completely impractical in regard to dealing with these thug-driven vehicles prowling our communities on our twenty-two by eight miles of land (the size of which I suspect could easily be exceeded by many a Texas ranch).
PS Sorry, knew I’d forgotten something. Also, disable the A/C in police patrol cars, so that they have to drive with open windows – poor things – and maybe then they’ll have a fighting chance of actually see these illegally-tinted "ghost" vehicles. Worth a shot at least.
Or maybe its the generation of wasters that is Cayman’s youth. A whole generation of unmotivated, uneducated, lazy slobs with no morals and a huge sense of entitlement. It’s these home grown criminals that are destroying the island, its the hard working and poorly paid expatriates that are trying to make the island a better place, but idiots like you that are detroying it.
I agree with you and I’m a Caymanian. These scum need to pull their pants up and seek a job. Unfortunately these thugs are people who have no intention of working for a living and will continue to rob, steal and sell drugs!
What is happening to that beautiful Island? This is such a shame. Everyday I am reading about negative things happening. I have a trip booked to Cayman in April. I sure hope I won’t have to hide out in my rental home. What a shame! They need to bring in other forces to help with the situation. The criminals think this is funny! They are not getting caught so they will continue to do it. Put up cameras everywhere. I did not think it was veryeasy to run away on the Island. The crime seems to be in the same areas but does that mean that they will be moving on in a matter of time? Will they be headed to East End where there is basically nothing? Will they be going to NorthSide where it is quiet and tranquil with very little business? What will be next? I see that there are not many violent crimes (good thing) but stealing from their very own is not cool! They are taking out of their own mouths. Get the police force improved! Get more cops out on the beat! Bring in police undercover. You can stop the problem but the community and police need to work together. Should I be scared to travel to your beautiful Island? I think not!
In my view, Commissioner of Police David Baines should resign.
I agree.
I wonder if the governor really feels safe with this man in charge. We don’t feel safe under his management we feel he’s incompetent and is not ready for the magnitude of criminal activity weighing down on this island. He didn’t expect this. He thought it would be fun in the sun every day.
This is a wake up call. Replace him or we all perish.
Big mouth EZZARD what do you have to say.?
Then what? We waste the time and expense of a recruitment process, to replace him with someone who will face all of the same issues? Then we can replace him, and start all over again.
If you’re going to make statements like that, at least admit that the reason you want him replaced is that you want someone more gun friendly. Perhaps you should just do us all a favour and move to Texas
Baines says he knows who the criminals are and the police are watching them. So why are they still out committing crimes?
My views on firearms are clear, I speak frankly, and I sign my full and real name at all times. So, by suggesting that I’m not really saying what I want to say is disingenuous at best…
Criminals would always prefer better working conditions, thus anyone can see why they would want lawfully armed people to move to Texas.
Mr. David Baines should resign from the office of Commissioner of Police now.
Dennie,
While I do not disagree with your opinion, you know the old saying, "Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t"…there has not been an effective CoP since Anthony Gray…and given the looks of things, there isn’t likely to be anyone who is going to be able to step into the job and grab the reigns and get this runaway stagecoach back under control….I welcome your thoughts…in the meantime, I would spend every available minute napping..cause it looks like you’re going to get even busier…
"In my view, Commissioner of Police David Baines should resign.’
Changing Commissioners all the time is a sign of instability. I found that out the hard way with my work place. It has a huge turnover in staff. Every 1-2 years there is a new manager which means new rules and new regulations. The RCIPS don’t need that.
He has made a lot of good changes.# 1 being that he makes sure that all police are at the right standard of education. I have always thought that the police needed more training after I had a civil matter and had to explain a law to a police officer. This was many years ago. Some countries require police to have an Associate degree in Criminal Justice.
You are correct 01:01, Commssioner Baines is trying to improve the standard of education and intellgence of the force. I see that of great importance. If you have to be changing your management so often, it clearly means that something is wrong with your business.
So you have said so many times. You want his job? Keep taking photos.
some people nod there heads after each robbery report.Small business bring people and value to your communities and without them where will you go for your emergency and food needs?
Who will be comfortable having to drive lengthy distances for food if small business owners get tired, pack up and move or close down.
What will your community look like?What will your tenants do?
Robberies is a sad situation, but the robbers are not smart at all. They chose to rob this restaurant on a night, when there was hardly any business, because of the weather. They probably just got the float money. If you are going to do a robbery, why not go where the big money is. Go to the supermarkets, the politician homes and to the rich establishments. Stop robbing the small man and yourown people. The rich man and the politicans caused this fiasco, anyhow. The best way to survive though, is to get a job and get a life. You do not have to steal.
Brilliant !! Giving them advise on how to become better and more profitable robbers……… when does the small arms training start around at your house?
It’s good to see there’s still a high level of stupidity within your community.
That’s cause there was nothing to steal back in the good old days!
Will I read next that they have robbed a police station of their weaponary and exhibits ??
God help us on these little rock’s called the Cayman Islands !!!
It wouldn’t be the first time!!!
3 out of last 5 headlines about robberies! Great news for the outside world to read about our once tranquil and crime free island. The current economic situation drives desperate people to go to desperate measures to feed themselves or their families. If we don’t have jobs for everyone, then we need to scrutinize our immigration permit policies and revolk permits for those on island who have work permits but no work. Our population is probably falsely inflated with permit holders who have no work and then turn to crime in desperation. Not to suggest that all crimes are perpetrated by permit holders but……………………..we didn’t have these problems back in the day when the island was only populated by Caymanians. Yes we need outside workers to have a successful economy and to fill the jobs but perhaps we have too many non-working permit holders!
To 3 out of the last 5
There is a reason the people "you" blame for "OUR" island’s problem are permit holders, and that is because "they" hold employment status on "OUR" island. "They" have no motivation to commit these cowardly acts. If "you" are going to argue "you" believe these permit holders are taking the jobs qualified "Caymanians" can fill, then I challenge "you" to motivate the wanna be shottas to get off their mothers couch and choose a career path other than that of a cowardly criminal.
As far as "you" not having this problem when "OUR" island was only populated by "Caymanians", this might be true but "you" didn’t have the amount of revenue streaming thru "your" island when it was only populated by "Caymanians". (Please feel free to expand on your definition of "Caymanian" at any time)
As for "your" great notion that the problem is due to the islands "current economic situation" which in turn is driving the recent spike in robberies, I think "you" need to look in the mirror and see that it is individuals similar to "you" my friend who are driving the "current economic situation". Pointing fingers at everyone else as the source of the problem is not going to fix anything (expats, government, immigration, etc).
"You" need to realize that the whole world is going thru a similar "economic situation" and find innovative solutions to counteract the "current economic situation (learn a trade, start a business, do something within the bounds of the law!!!!)". If "you" believe "OUR" problem isn’t directly related to the lack of education, determination, motivation, and self sufficiency, then "you" my friend are only kidding "yourself". Perhaps we have too many people like "you" expecting others to graciously pickup "your" slack and provide for "your kind"!!!
here’s something to ponder…
some poeple say the crime is due to unemployment, and people are just trying to feed their family.
Other(?) people are saying we have to arm ourselves to shoot these criminals………………………… hmmmmmmm
Will it be Chinese take-out tomorrow night?
LOL!
"Add a new comment" – – – what more is there to say? It’s all been said.
They came.
They robbed.
They left.
I’ve passed the point of caring anymore. This kind of news is now so commonplace that I’m beginning to think something is out of the ordinary when I DON’T hear about a daily robbery.
I’m numb and complacent and jaded. Where oh where is my peaceful little island that time forgot? I think I’m in a state of depression. I have no feeling from my neck up.
This message is for Commissioner Baines:
XXXXXXX!!
Who have ever heard of OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS by any Police Department. So when a child is abducted one night it will be outside office hours to report it to the media?
Maybe a robbery took place and I am driving behind the car..I guess I would not know since it is OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS for the police to give out a description.
Maybe a burglary just happened and I see someone walking in my neighborhood but pay no attention. Might be the same person but because IT IS OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS I will not know a crime has taken place and to be on the look out.
XXXXXXXX
I hope the Media XXXX reports WITHIN OFFICE HOURS when your contract is not renewed!!
In my view, Commissioner David Baines is clearly trying to box above his weight. So he should step-down and let someone else who is competent lead the RCIPF.
It will soon be the case that CNS will be asking business owners to call in if their establishments have not been robbed in the previous 24 hours.
I like the idea posted in another area to the effect that what was needed was legislation which would make our useless politicians reimburse the businesses robbed from their own pockets. That is the only way they will be willing to do anything about this mess.
Robberies are not going to stop in the Cayman Islands.
This is the norm now! It is a new age. We have to try and do our best not to escalate the crime here. I feel educating the younger generation is our only hope. Also, we need to support our law enforcement bodies.
Advocates against firearm need to shut up!
Peace :>)