Man hurt in 1 of 2 robberies

| 15/01/2011

(CNS): Update 3:05pm Sunday – Police say an 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with an incident at the Plum Tree grocery store on Friday evening, the first of two armed robberies on Grand Cayman that night. The suspect is currently detained in police custody while enquiries continue. A male victim is currently in hospital recovering from injuries received during the robbery. Police reported that two men armed with machetes entered the convenience store in Northward just after 8:30pm, assaulted a male member of staff and grabbed the cash register before making their escape. Meanwhile, some two hours later two members of staff at Tim Buc Tuu restaurant were held up at gunpoint as it was closing for the night by two robbers who made off with both tips and takings. (Photos Dennie Warren Jr)

At the Plum Tree store on Northward Road, not far from the country’s prison, the member of staff sustained head and hand injuries in the incident. The injuries, which are believed to have been caused by a machete, are not thought to be life threatening. He was taken by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town, where he remains this morning (Saturday) and is currently in a stable condition.

Detective Constable Manley Berry is appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact Bodden Town CID or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).

In West Bay an employee of the Tim Buc Tuu on Town Hall Road, West Bay, was sitting on the patio at the front of the premises while his co-worker was finishing up inside. He was confronted by two masked men, one of whom had what appeared to be a gun. He forced the staff back inside the premises, where they threatened the female worker before stealing both the night’s takings and the contents of the tip jar. The suspects were last seen running off to the rear of the restaurant but other witnesses say they may have escaped in a green car.

No one was injured and no shots were fired during the incident but staff were shaken by the ordeal, although they found time to commend the very quick response of the West Bay officers, who they said were on the scene within ten minutes of the robbery.

The suspects are both described as being Caymanian, around 5’4”in height, light complexion, wearing black long sleeved shirts, black pants, white tee shirts over their faces and black gloves. One male was of stocky build and approximately thirty years of age. The second male was described as being slim and in his mid-twenties.

Detective Constable Nathan Turner of West Bay CID is investigating the incident and would be keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the relevant time last night and saw the incident take place or the suspects fleeing the scene.

Anyone with information on either crime can call West Bay CID on 949-3999 or the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800- 8477 (TIPS).

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  1. Anonymous says:

    bring some police from other countries…. the ones that are not going to cost cayman a fortune like UK… with the previous case… 

  2. Anonymous says:

    As we all very well know crime is well out of control and has been getting worst over the last few years. No one seems to have any answers so allow me to suggest something.

    Why dont we have a clean sweep off those in authority over the last few years, ie the Attorney General and the Chief Justice for starters and if the Governor isnot upto having a clean sweep then lets cry out for a new Governor.

    Crime has to be tackled from the top and if there are no results then lets get new blood.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Cynicism noted, Slow Motion. In all fairness to WBPS officers, I have had them respond farther afield in West Bay than Tim Buc Too in approximately 10 minutes.

    On another note, I am familiar with the staff at Tim Buc Too, all of whom are recent arrivals to this island from overseas. I imagine their description of the alleged Caymanian robbery suspects is based only on their accents. Not trying to deflect blame nor disregard their statements but I wonder if they are best qualified to differentiate a Caymanian accent from that of other Caribbean Islands. I speak with a strong, native-born and raised Caymanian accent and I have been repeatedly asked by many foreign nationals if I’m Caymanian.

    It must not be discounted that our own criminals are, very likely, not the only ones victimizing our residents. Ultimately, however, Caymanian perpetrators or otherwise, these crimes are being committed here and it is Cayman’s reputation and safe lifestyle which is being ruined.

    • Anonymous says:

      umm… actually they are not ‘all recent arrivals’ …

      not that important though.  Just like to see some of these guys caught occasionally.  

  4. Anon says:

    Armed robberies on nearly a daily basis in Cayman now.  Property  prices can now only go down.  Why are people building so many new condos?  Caymanians do not buy condos they buy land and build a house  and soon there will be no "furriners"  (to quote a certain Norsider) to buy at overinflated prices in a crime filled island where it is impossible to get status and one lives in indentured service to one’s work permit holding company.  Also people are realising that although there is no direct taxation on this island the cost of living with indirect taxation no longer makes it attractive to live on the island vs other offshore places which are frankly more beautiful but may have some tax,  As for me I have a professional job on the island but have decided it is time to sell up (at any price) and leave.  I dare say there will be those that say good riddance however the more that come to the same conclusion will be inherently bad for the future of Cayman, and there will be more and more who conclude similarly in the near future

    • Anonymous says:

      I agree with you except for the impossible to get status part.  Plenty in the financial industry are on track.  Don’t know if they will take advantage though…

  5. Slow-Motion says:

    "staff were shaken by the ordeal although they found time to commend the very quick response of the West Bay officers who they said were on the scene within ten minutes of the robbery."

    Just TEN minutes?  Let’s see, I can drive from West Bay to George Town in ten minutes, boat halfway across North Sound, etc. 

    Hello.  Quick response for once?  Catch them in the neighborhood before they can get too far away.

    Maybe it goes like this:

    1. Call comes in

    2. West Bay police officer wakes up and answers.

    3. Hangs up, walks to bathroom, takes leak, grunts, shuffles back to desk, finally picks up radio, calls it out to officers.

    4. Officers get the call at the coffee shop.  Finish their coffee, doughnuts, etc.  Go to car, put on easy-listening tunes on the radio and take a leisurely drive across the giant metropolis of West Bay.

    5.  Arrival time: 10 minutes.

    Don’t break a leg guys…by all means take your time.