Saturday, February 13, 2010

Home National Sports Business Lifestyles Religion Arts & Culture Pulse Spice Editorial letters Opinion Foodie Sportscope Real Talks Weekend Report PDF's Classifieds Contact About Us Archive Weather

Letters | Opinion | Editorial | Weekend Report
Six robberies on Friday By STAFF WRITER ~ Guardian News Desk: A man is suffering from wounds in hospital after he was shot during one of six armed robberies to take place on Friday, police reported yesterday. The string of armed robberies, which all took place between 7:30 a.m. and 10:40 p.m., add to the spike in armed robberies recorded so far this year. Police say the first incident took place sometime around 7:43 a.m. on West Bay Street. A man was in the parking lot of an establishment on West Bay Street when he was allegedly accosted by a masked gunman, who was dressed in a blue sweat suit. "The culprit robbed the man of an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the area in a black 2003 Mitsubishi Mirage, license plate number 124412," reported Sergeant Chrislyn Skippings, police press liaison officer. Less than four hours later, around 11:08 a.m., police received information about another armed robbery at Galleria Cinema. Two employees were allegedly exiting a rear door of the establishment, when they were accosted by two men, one of whom was allegedly armed with a handgun. The culprits robbed one of the employees of a deposit bag containing an undisclosed amount of cash, and fled into the Claridge Road area in an old gray Ford Explorer, police said. The third armed robbery of the day was reported around 12:17 p.m. - this time at Budget Meat Market on Cowpen Road. "Police responded and information received was that a dark male, clad in a white shirt and dark- colored pants, and allegedly armed with a handgun, entered the establishment demanding cash," said Skippings. "The culprit robbed the store of an undetermined amount of cash and fled the area on foot in an unknown direction. In another incident, sometime around 8:05 p.m. Herbie's Chinese Café on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway was allegedly held up by a gunman clad in a white T-shirt and blue jeans pants, with a scarf over the lower part of his face. Police say the gunman robbed the store of an undetermined amount of cash and fled the area in an unknown direction. Less than 20 minutes later, police received information about gunshots being discharged in the area of Fire Trail Convenience Store. When police responded they were told that a man, allegedly armed with a handgun, entered the store and demanded cash. "The male was given an undetermined amount of cash; however, while leaving there was an exchange of gunshot between an employee and the suspect, resulting in a third person receiving gunshot injuries to the right arm and back," Skippings said. The culprit fled the area in a gray, 4-door, right hand drive Honda Inspire. The individual who sustained gunshot injuries was taken to hospital, where his condition is unknown. The fifth robbery took place around 9 p.m. During that incident Zelmar Enterprise on Maxwell Lane, off Rock Crusher Road, was allegedly robbed by a gunman in a black, hooded jacket. Skippings said the man robbed the store of an undetermined amount of cash and fled the area in a silver colored vehicle. The last incident took place around 10:40 p.m. in the area of Dignity Gardens. Skippings said a man was robbed by two masked men shortly after he arrived home. The men robbed the Dignity Gardens resident of his gray 2000 Maxima and fled the area in an unknown direction, Skippings said. These reports come just days after police noted a sharp increase in thefts over the past couple weeks. During the week of January 24 to February 1, there were 66 thefts alone. Police say on average, only 20 robberies are reported each week in the northern district of The Bahamas. According to Superintendent Leon Bethell, those robberies were reported in New Providence, Grand Bahama and Abaco. Monday February 08, 2010