By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMAS Bus and Truck Company Ltd was stripped of an undetermined amount of cash during an armed robbery yesterday.
In view of the incident, Ben Albury, its general manager called, on the government to allow Bahamians the right to carry arms in an effort to protect themselves from escalating crime.
According to Mr Albury, two of three men approached a company employee at around 11:30 am as he left the building on Montrose Avenue and Tenwich Street to deposit funds at the bank.
The men, one of whom is believed to have been armed with a weapon, had been watching the building in a four-door, darkly tinted silver coloured Daewoo Ceilo for a while before they robbed the employee, Mr Albury said. The employee was not injured.
“There is no doubt in my mind,” he said, “that this was a job that was aided by a Bus and Truck employee who just happened to know that we had a little more cash than usual around. Because it’s not the norm for us to keep that amount of money around.
“We’ve been robbed before and I think that the government needs to allow law abiding citizens to own a side arm or a revolver. I think that it would give a great help. I have to live every day fearing for my life and that of my family’s life.
“It is very unnerving to know that this type of stuff goes on at 11:30 in the morning.”
Mr Albury appealed to the general public to assist authorities in solving, not only this incident, but others.
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Some faith you have for your employees. Wouldn't you at least have waited for the police to investigate, before calling one of your employees an conspirator to armed robbery. Wouldn't want a member of my family working for such a quick to accuse employer. My, my how you make your employees feel good. Is it him or is it her?
B_I_D___ 11 years, 1 month ago
Tal...sometimes you just know...any involved business owner surely has a finger on the pulse of his business and can get a sense for operations and how these things can happen. If he only deposits 1 or 2K a day let's say, and he had a big car sale and suddenly had a deposit of 100K and on that same day they get jumped, the coincidences are just way too much to not go down that path with, whether you have faith in your staff or not, you have to go down that path.
jt 11 years, 1 month ago
What ^ he said! Tal.
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
I think da Comrade Car Dealer wants the right ware side arm or carry a concealed revolver. I guess he wants issue guns to his employees too. Just what we all need. Open-up our tiny Bahamaland as the new tourism Wild West.
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Comrades I think many, many things about people but I'm guarded enough not to be be casting a negative shadow without sufficient grounds to do so. Because I think something about them it doesn't mean I'm right.
thomas 11 years, 1 month ago
Why do we still have employees risking their lives taking deposits to banks? Use an armoured car service.
lazybor 11 years, 1 month ago
came to write the same thing...
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B_I_D___ 11 years, 1 month ago
With a couple hundred employees in tow, as sad as this sounds, I've been disappointed far too many times. I've come to expect the unexpected and still get blown away. Probably have 'faith' in a small percentage of them and that's about it...and it wouldn't surprise me if I got burnt there either...just a sign of the times, the old school die-hard trustworthy employee of yester-year are long gone. To find one is this day and age is a rarity at best!
blackcat 11 years, 1 month ago
Ben Albury is an idiot. I'm sorry but I am of the view that guns create more havoc. If he is so convinced that this was an inside job, what good what it do to have a gun ? Just more shooting up in the street at "11:30 in the morning". Law abiding citizens ? How does Mr. Albury propose we allocate these gun licenses? I could bribe my daddy's cousin's uncle's sister to give me a permit because I know someone . C'mon man, half the problems are caused due to the excessive number of guns in this town--We don't need more !
It's unfortunate what happened to the company but I don't think more guns are the answer, and even those who believe they are can't deny that there would be many off- the- books exceptions to such a law. Bahamians in general have anger issues, we have not been taught conflict resolution and believe the answer to most issues are to become violent and fight. Couple that with more guns on the street and use your imagination.
potcake 11 years, 1 month ago
who are you concerned with being shot? a criminal.... your concern for their safety is way too high considering their concern for yours....but the truth is that a firearm in a homeowner, or business owners hands could be a deterrent to a criminal. besides your reason for not giving a firearm to a law abiding citizen is because of corruption in the government? well then we shouldn't have cars or homes or food either...
blackcat 11 years, 1 month ago
To piggyback on another's post- an armoured truck should have been used. It's not worth it in this day and time to take chances depositing large amounts of cash by hand. Whether he trusted this employee or not, in my opinion, a car service is a much safer bet.
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Comrades is it me that's insane or that your family member working at a business may also be expected to undergo firearm proficiency training. And at what price ..... all for minimum wages to protect da bosses loot. Yeah boss man, wait for it. Arm your own damn family with loaded pistols, not my son or daughter.
Alex_Charles 11 years, 1 month ago
They run red lights because they have no respect for traffic laws. Why should anyone if those laws are only enforced when it's convenient?
briwest1773 11 years, 1 month ago
So why does Bahamas Bus and Truck deliver their deposits to the bank and not hire an amoured truck service???? I dont get it.....This is not a mom and pop shop..they are a big business. With a practice like that no wonder they are being targeted by criminals...the person going to make the deposit is a sitting duck for thugs!
blackcat 11 years, 1 month ago
@ rory- of course you completey ignored two of my most major points:
How do we discriminate between a "law abiding citizen" and a "criminal scumbag" in this country ? My point was that I doubt this would be able to be properly policied and quite frankly , I don't trust the average person with concealed weapons at the ready for any conflict. Just look at the way you've exploded with cuss words in this very forum- seems to be your trademark.
An armoured truck and security guards should be able to carry guns as they are TRAINED to do so. The issue I have is that I don't believe Mr. Albury's suggestion for him and every joe-blow to carry gun makes sense. I don't believe it will solve the problems but to each their own.
No one is saying bahamians shouldn't have the rights to defend themselves but if laws were properly enforced and we all stopped crying 'not my good child' , we would be able to slowly rid the country of crime over time. Increased focus on education and well-rounded extra curicular activites with purpose is where we should begin. Once we remove the importance of material things and switch to a mindset that doesn't involve the constant lying, stealing , judging and cheating we may get ahead. My opinion is that more guns will not help in the interim.
PS- Bahamians don't run red lights becausw they're scared for their lives- they run them because no one is enforcing the laws for them to do otherwise and they simply DON'T CARE. I bet when they reach the US they buckle up though- why cuz the LAW IS ENFORCED. anyway, i digress. peace.
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