Cops hunt for more robbers

| 05/03/2011

(CNS): Police are on the hunt this morning for three masked men after an attempted robbery in George Town on Friday afternoon and a successful heist at Pizza Hut in Countryside Village on Friday night (4 March). At about 9:15 pm two suspects entered Pizza Hut, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun and the other with a machete. Police said the robbers threatened staff with the weapons and demanded cash before making off with the money towards the rear of the building. Earlier in the afternoon another man failed to get any cash after attempting to rob a small landscape business in George Town with a suspected handgun. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

About 2:45 pm the man entered Qualscape Ltd, in the DMS Building, in Eastern Avenue and threatened a female member of staff and demanded cash. According to a police spokesperson, the woman initially hid under a desk before managing to run from the building. The suspect then threatened other staff members without success and after failing to get any cash, the would-be robber fled empty handed. The man then tried to enter a burgundy coloured car which was outside the premises but the driver who was in the car drove away. The suspect ran off and was last seen disappearing into some nearby bushes.

No shots were fired and no one was injured in either of the incidents. The suspect who attempted to rob Qualscape is described as being: around 6’3" in height, slim build, and dark brown complexion. His face was covered by a white t-shirt. He was wearing a white shirt and blue pants.

Both of the men who robbed the Countryside Pizza hut (the 15th robbery of the year) were described as having white masks covering their faces. The first was about 5’4" in height, skinny build, wearing a dark long sleeved top and grey pant suit and his accomplice about 5’7" in height, medium build wearing a long sleeved top and grey pants.

Bodden Town detectives are appealing for anyone who was in the Countryside shopping centre at the relevant time and saw anything suspicious to contact them. Information can be passed via the Bodden Town police station number 947-2220.

Meanwhile, George Town detectives are appealing for anyone who was in the Eastern Avenue area at the time of the attempted robbery and saw anything suspiciousto contact them. They also said they were keen to speak to the driver of the burgundy car who drove off from the scene. Information can be passed via the George Town police station number 949-4222.

People can also report any information on either crime to the confidential Crime Stoppers number 800-8477 (TIPS).

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  1. Anonymous says:

    How come it’s always “what appeared to be a gun” but never “what appeared to be a machete.” Is this because guns are considered so rare and exotic around here that witnesses cannot be expected to know one when they see it?
    Aren’t fake guns still “guns” when used in a crime? It’s weird to see reports that “the victim was whacked on the head with what appeared to be a handgun.” Silly policespeak that diminishes the reality of the rime.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Message to the Premier – would someone please read this to him – CRIME IS JOB ONE MR PREMIER -Increase the penalties for violent crime, end parole for violent crime and reform the Northward Spa – get on with it.

    PS  – unfortunately doing the job that needs to be done may require you to be in Cayman occasionally.

     

     

     
  3. anonymous says:

    high rents and landlords not providing security guards at all plazas etc . tennants must demand it NOW

    • Anonymous says:

      And what would the security guards do exactly? Blind them with their flashlights? Let’s remember who’s in charge here…the people with the guns, and last I checked, it wasn’t the good guys.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Has anyone considered that due to the state of the economy, persons are resorting to crime for their basic needs, food being one of them?

    A Soup Kitchen may be part of the answer?

    • Anonymous says:

      To Anonymous,Sat. 05/Mar/11       Some people are too busy setting up Cafes for cats to have any time for soup kitchens for needy people.They say ,if you are hungry ,it’s your fault.

  5. Mr. W says:

    Too much crime…Better dredge the North Sound.

    If crime gets any worse, Dredge deeper.

  6. Anonymous says:

    At a rate like this cops will always be hunting for robbers. This whole situation of robberies have placed a shadow of criminality over the islands. My opinion is that person/s are going to face the otherside of the problem, which could cause bodily harm inflicted by apprehending the robbers. Our vigilance to crack down on these thugs and lock them away for a while would be a lesson for them all.

  7. Anonymous says:

    5’4", 5’7", 5’1"… West Bay … George Town, East End… three… three… three…

    This is an unusual height… some might say vertically challenged …

    How hard can this be… come on now…

    Who… are we looking for … two younger guys  5’1" and 5’4" with their older brother/cousin…

    Anybody bother to think about this for more than two minutes… shouldn’t be too hard to figure out who this is…

  8. Anonymous says:

    There’s reative policing and proactive policing.

    Reactive policing, which is what you have now and what you will still have when CCTV eventually hits the streets, goes after the bad guys after they commit the crimes.

    Proactive policing puts officers out on the streets 24/7 looking for the bad guys.

    Right now it looks (and I apologise if this is wrong but that’s the impression these incidents give) as though RCIPS prefer to sit in air conditioned police stations, drinking coffee and watching TV to getting out and tackling crime.

    Back in October 2009 the CoP is reported to have said –

    “At the moment we have 15 individuals who are spoiling our outlook for the future. These 15 individuals are well–known to our officers.”

    OK, we are now 15 months down the road from that statement and maybe it’s time for an update Mr Baines but please save us the BS this time.

  9. neilburrowes says:

    suggestion:

    when 911 call comes in with a description of people or get away car.

    immediately send out sms text message of location, description, direction etc. to 20,000 lime users or digicell users

    (which ever carrier is first to offer their support for free)

    all recipients then can spend the next 10 minutes to observe their surroundings – if they see the suspected crooks – sms text reply to the first message ( or call if you have to ).

    it would be quite difficult to escape this technology… its almost instant and very intrusive… and just as fast to respond.

    yes its inconvenient to get a text at 3am, people can opt out of this public service as they choose.

    it would be very hard to escape the eyes of the public – 3 minutes after you just robbed a store.

    the suspects should be caught within the hour.

    software costs $200

    http://www.smscaster.com/ordersmscaster.htm

     

     

     

     

  10. Lachlan MacTavish says:

    I know everyone keeps saying "this is ridiculous, unacceptable, unbelievable" but actually there are no words for how foolish the situation has become in Cayman.

    One man Government, rampant crime, no money, CS to big, no accounts, no public servant accountability, no stay over tourism, mind boggling push to add two islands to The Cayman Islands, chinese investors. 

    I cannot find the words to describe how really stupid this situation. My home is becoming a third world with the passing of everyday. 

    Bottom line Caymanians and residents no one is in control of the country. It is going to get worse. 

     

  11. JH says:

    It’s very simple in fighting repeated crime! These are the same group of thugs committing these robberies. YOU NEED TO HAVE A PLAN! The Police only solution is use statistical probabilities of where the next place will be hit, and they need to hide and await for their coming, do stake outs, and much covert operations!  That is how you catch organized criminals! Not mere patrols in uniform and mark cars all over the place, responding to scenes when it is too late. This fashion of policing just shows the sort of Commissioner we have.In my opinion, he ought to resign! He is not running the service properly!

  12. Anonymous says:

    At this rate Jam will begin to look safer. RCIPS crowing over the arrest for the Barefoot beach muggings, (tourists that were mugged would tend to remember details and descriptions and as they don’t have to live here would be more forth coming with information).  As for the West Bay Tortuga robbery (right  time right place). Even the RCIPS cant be completely  inept all the time. It would take more than two arrests by the RCIPS to restore my confidence in them. Don’t look like the criminals are slowing down (maybe they haven’t got the word). That fellow that called in the robbery in prospect don’t look like that new law compelling people to give information helped and I didn’t hear about any charges being brought against him for calling in a false report. Something ain’t right either he was robbed or he wasn’t if not some charges should be brought against him( look at the adverse publicity he has helped to generate). Now this continued string of robberies. Pretty soon there will only be the criminals and the police and a string of cameras. Some honest people are saying enough is enough. They cant operate businesses or go to work and live under these conditions. The arrests and conviction rate here just is not balanced or acceptable for violent crimes.

    • Anonymous says:

      So, when the police make arrests and bring charges, it’s by luck and the benefit of having the right people as a victim – people who can remeber facs and details- but when they have yet to solve a crime it’s because they are inept?! Geez, with that kind of negativity it’s not surprising that these islands are in such a mess, I think the clue to the problem is in your comment – if the public at large are not willing to cooperate with the police, not willing to provide accurate descriptions and not willing to give evidence in court, how on earth are the police meant to be successful? How do you suggest the police deal with crime and criminals if they have no evidence against someone, or are you suggesting that the police and politicians should have the power to lock anyone up who they don’t like the look of and ‘know’ to be a criminal?

    • Anonymous says:

      Jamaica IS safer.

      • anonymous says:

        Of course JA is safer, you dont know why? because ————the—————-is here in Cayman. Where do you think they is.
        Why the premier donot want to introduce finger printing, and why are there thumbs down for this request, because we have criminals here who need to have their finger print taken. Go ahead PPM and UDP keep on doing what you doing, because none of you will be getting voted back in. Have a meeting tomorrow and watch your crowd.

  13. Anonymous says:

     Mac hits out at petition but when is he going to hit out at crime ?

  14. Anonymous says:

    Message to Premier:

    This scares away investors.

  15. Anonymous says:

    Maybe the getaway car (if any ) was parked in the parking lot of the Post Office in Savannah.Just a thought.

  16. Lachlan MacTavish says:

    So I guess the United Nations needs to come down and sit with Mr. Bush and Ms. O and explain that Cayman is now a third world country and that as the leaders of the country start to think about spear heading a fight against crime.

  17. Anonymous says:

    Its really time to make an example of these little pieces of garbage! They just dont realize what they are doing to their country and ultimately themselves.

    • Backstroke says:

      Maybe they do know what they are doing,just think about it, the more they do the worse it will get and they maybe doing this to destroy the country.Remember thats what happened in some of these nearby countries.
      We need to pay attention to all of this, its not good and i’m scared to death of this and what will happen here.

  18. Anonymous says:

    Its a damn free for all!!!

  19. Banana Deterrent says:

     It is time to arm the store keepers just like the law allows farmers to have guns…do you notice that no farmers are getting held up?

     

  20. Franchise owners says:

     These shop keepers, franchise owners, and small retail stores need to get together….where is the Small Business Association and the Chamber of Commerce on all this???  If the cops can’t be everywhere, the business owners need to organize.

    Pretty soon, every retail entrance door will have a fingerprint scanner and buzzer to let you into the shop.

    These crooks are getting more brazen every day….it is out of control, and we are getting used to hearing about daily robberies?  unheard of in Cayman.

    Big Mac, bring in the damn SWAT team and let em sweep the streets for 6 months….I have no problem being stopped, questioned, carry ID,and frisked.  I’m not doing anything wrong..

    I say let the employees use paint guns, tasers, and tear gas on these thugs.

     

  21. anonymous says:

    Question that person from Pizza hut very good. They should be able to describe very well what the person sound like, . Not sure who but looked into the face of a man driving like crazy around the same time while shopping at Fosters, almost knocked me down with my cart. Two person was in a Black or Navy blue jeep. Could be something different but they sure was in one hell of a hurry.

    • Anonymous says:

      I am sure that those Cayman Brac Fosters who are good Business People would have Cameras at their Supermarket. Good to check and perhaps there might be a get away car to be seen.

    • Anonymous says:

      In reply to post 5th March 9:00, it appears that you may have some valuable information, please I beg you call 1-800-tips, this is the only way that this is going to stop if we come forward and provide any information whatsoever. The robberies are more prevalant now with businesses, and just maybe we are in one of those businesses with our young children when the next incident occurs, how traumatic this will be for them and us. Although this has already started, it can get much worse, our homes will be the next target. Please let someone know what you saw, it must be someone that you can trust. Help us to make our home Cayman safe again!!.

  22. Anonymous says:

    How can it be an attempted robbery if they made off with money?

    • Anonymous says:

      08:49 Re_Read and you will see that there was a successful”heist” -means that there was a robbery in which they got money and an attempted robbery in which thy got none . The difference between an “attempt” and a “success” are clear. Don’t let us believe you can’t comprehend these simple terms, ‘cho mon’.

      • Anonymous says:

        Ol Buddy i can comprehend, It wasnt like that when I read it, cns must have changed it up.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Would you Bastards please get a job and stop taking what hard working people work for I can guarantee you one of these times when you Bastards are doing this its going to be someone there that will put a stop to it hopes it happens sooner than later.

    • Anonymous says:

      Do you honestly believe the "bastards" are reading any of this?  Can they read????