The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

POLICE are seeking the public’s help after four armed robberies on Friday in which three cars were taken along with cash.

The first incident occurred around 8.30am Friday morning when a man armed with a handgun entered and robbed a business at East and Taylor Streets of cash before fleeing on foot.

Thirty minutes later, a woman was standing outside of her Fire Trail Road home when two armed gunmen robbed her of her black 2007 Honda Civic car along with her wallet containing cash and other personal items. The culprits sped off in the woman’s vehicle. 

Minutes after the second incident, police received reports that a man was at a business establishment on Shirley Street, where he was approached by two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, and robbed of his rental 2009 grey Toyota Corolla before they sped off.

Shortly before 10pm that evening, a woman was standing in the parking lot of a business located on West Bay Street, when a dark male robbed her of her black Chevy Malibu vehicle along with her handbag containing cash and two cell phones. The man then sped off in the woman’s vehicle.

Last year, there were 1,099 armed robberies, with 980 occurring in New Providence.

In the first few days of this year, Superintendent Stephen Dean had said there were “enough to cause concern”.

“The public said before that we have not informed them of these instances in the past so we are taking a more proactive approach this year. These armed robberies are sporadic but most of them have occurred in the Carmichael Road and south eastern areas,” he said.

“In each incident, a weapon has been used and police are concerned that someone can be seriously injured. Police are appealing to members of the public to be aware of their surroundings and always on the alert. Additionally, members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious people, activities and vehicles.”

“We want members of the public to know that we are aware of the seriousness of these crimes and are working diligently to protect and prevent future crimes of this nature.”

Concerning the incidents on Friday, police are appealing to anyone with any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, to anonymously call police at 919 or CRIME STOPPERS at 328-TIPS (8477) (New Providence) or 1-242-300-8476 (Family Islands).