The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The owner of a well-known dry cleaning chain has urged businesses to be on “high alert to ensure customer and employee safety heading into the Christmas shopping period.

Lana Lee-Brogdon, president of New Oriental Cleaners, urged the private sector to be proactive after a customer was assaulted last week during a robbery near one of her dry cleaning outlets.

With the holiday season often comes increased crime. We had a customer pulling up to one of our locations in the middle of the day, like 2 pm, and a guy just walked up to her and basically beat her to the ground to get her purse,” said Mrs Brogdon.

“This was all visible from inside our store. The guy ended up fleeing the scene but private citizens chased him down, caught him and held him until the police got there.”

She added: “I just want to encourage business owners to be proactive, to ensure that lighting is there and adequate around the stores, that they have surveillance and that they take whatever preventative measures are necessary to ensure that customers and employees feel safe. You can’t wait for something to happen. Businesses should be on high alert around this time.”

Last week, the US Embassy in Nassau issued a Christmas crime warning for American residents living in the Bahamas or planning travel to this country, urging them to “remain on heightened alert to avoid being a victim of crime”.

The warning said the holiday season often brings an increase in crime, particularly armed robberies and burglaries. The warning encouraged Americans living or travelling to this country to always be vigilant for threats of crime; not to carry around a large amount of cash; and avoid walking in dark, unlit areas.