Sandwich shop and grocery store robbed at gunpoint
(CNS): Subway at the Countryside Shopping Village in Savannah and the McRuss Grocery Store in George Town are the latest businesses to fall victim to robbery, which is said to have increased by more than 400% in the Cayman Islands this year. The Subway sandwich shop was robbed at around 9:15pm Tuesday by a lone man with his head and face covered who entered the establishment brandishing a handgun and demanded cash.
He made off on foot with an undisclosed sum of money in the direction of Newlands. Although the police carried out an area search, they were unable to locate the suspect.
Some six hours later, at around 3:20am Wednesday, three men, one of them armed with a gun and two with knives and all three with their faces and heads covered, entered the McRuss store on Eastern Avenue and demanded cash. They made off with the cash towards the rear of the store.
No firearms were discharged and no injuries were reported during either of the incidents, which both happened at businesses that are open 24 hours per day.
Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown, who is overseeing the ongoing spate of crime that has now seen close to 50 robberies and muggings take place this year, said that police patrols had increased but he also urged business owners to take extra precautions
“Detectives are working diligently to solve these robbery incidents that have been occurring, while our uniform operations have been increasing patrols and making themselves visible during key times and locations,” he said. “We are encouraging business owners to take precautions, like ensuring that they make regular and staggered bank deposits to limit loss and to employ additional security measures where possible, to reduce your chances of being victims of crimes.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact George Town CID at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can be provided to the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777 or the website.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
The culture of our island is being diluted by the influx of cheaper labor from Jamaica and Latin America. That is where this starts. Police service ranks are filled with people that come from countries where this type of criminal activity is the norm. Our public school system is filled with people that come from countries where this type of criminal activity is normal to them. There is no outrage or sense of urgency on their part because this normal where they come from.
Cayman is on the verge of losing its safety reputation. Shame!
Elect criminals and violent thugs, don’t be surprised when we get more criminals and violent thugs. Normalise the perception that the law does not apply to some people and their friends and other people will think it doesn’t apply to them either. It’s not hard to see what’s going on here. I wonder who this “gang of 10” is and who is protecting them.
A justice system has some main purposes:
1) To punish the guilty
2) To have the guilty repent
3) To alleviate the victim from the responsibility of revenge.
All are important but the last one is very important. The reason number 3 is very important is because it maintains social order.
Play a little in your imagination for a second. Imagine a drunk driver hits you and you lose a family member. The drunk driver now has the best lawyer money can buy and manages to get away with just community service.
How would you react? Would you try to make it even, go after the driver or go after a family member of the driver? Would you sit back and accept the outcome?
What do you think someone else in your situation would do, would they exact revenge on that person or a family member of that person or maybe nothing at all? Not all people think the way that you do.
Now imagine if you were robbed and no one is punished, no one repented. You see your neighbors robbed over and over and no-one is punished and no one repented. It’s a natural course of the human mind to start to become resentful, angry and hateful.. but where are those emotions going to be directed? This is an important aspect of the justice system, in that we can direct emotions like this at those who deserve it. But what happens when we can’t direct it at who deserves it, where does it spill over to?
Now, what is going to happen when we continue to see our neighbors and businesses robbed and the justice system fails on its purposes.
Where does the anger of the people get directed? Who do we exact revenge on? Why do you think this cannot spiral into the degradation of this society?
This is sickening. 🙁
Few of these violent criminals ever end up in jail and for the tiny number that get convicted, the little jail time they do is the same whether they commit one armed robbery or 100. That is one thing that would be simple and easy to change if our lazy politicians were so minded. Just make it mandatory for sentences to involve consecutive jail time for each offense rather than concurrent sentences for multiple crimes as it is now.
Except that is already the law. Concurrent sentencing is for multiple crimes committed within the same offence. Separate offences on different occasions, separate convictions, separate sentences. So if I rob a store with a gun, my sentence for having the gun and the sentence for robbery are concurrent. If I rob two stores, two different, non concurrent sentences.
Sadly that is not what happens with sentencing in Cayman. Take a look at the small number of reports of convictions for multiple robberies. You will see that the sentences handed out for multiple robberies fit easily within the sentencing guidelines for just 1 robbery. We need a formal change in the Penal Code to make consecutive sentences mandatory. Ideally our MPs would also change the Penal Code to impose minimum sentences for all violent crimes and double the current legislated maximum jail time for each offense.
Strange how our government is staying silent in relation to the out of control crime in our islands. I don’t agree with those that suggest it is explained by professional courtesy, but hey I have been wrong before.
Given that less than 1% of these crimes ever results in a conviction and that those convicted seem to be back on the streets in a matter of weeks, is it any wonder that crime is increasing?
See the Govt defending the RCIPS record and appealing to offenders to think about their actions, ROTFL.
Sounds like we are on stage three of loss and grief;Bargaining. Soon slip to stage four.
Where are the chamber of commerce muppets? Members getting robbed dont count because of Insurance payouts??
How many more robberies before you spring your traps RCIPS?
There i was this evening at 615pm in a coffee shop and thought to myself well, its getting dark and this place hasnt been in the news so best leg it to my car before i temp fate.
To be honest we just dont go out at night its simply not safe and thats sad to say now.
What would it take to declare RCIPS incompetence?
You for real?
You have a greater chance of getting mashed up in a car accident on the way home.
While the robberies are depressingly small time, and done by idiots with no regard for their victims or the ripple effect on tourism, and resident happiness, the chances of being a victim yourself are miniscule.
It is obvious the crimes are perpetrated by the same small circle of inbreds. They’ll slip up soon, or kill one another arguing over who gets a split of the $143.21 they just took from someone.
Probably the same guy that be lounging around asking for $5+. Man ask me for $5 one night and I gave it to him like a clown no problem. The man had the nerve to turn around and ask for $25 for a shave n cut because he have an interview the next day.
Last year I was stress, this year rcips stressed…actually, no were lots of promotions fi de boyz. never mind.
None of this will change until we elect politicians who are demonstrably tough on crime and not criminals themselves.
KFC never get robbed because Jamaican police are always there eating. FACT!!!
Don’t worry everyone
The police said 2 months ago that they knew who this local gang of 10 individuals are, and should be making an arrest any day now
ohhh, wait….
Law enforcement and crime prevention are two very different things. Do you think rcips really wants to prevent crime? How does that affect their budget and job security? Stop looking to rcips to prevent crime, it’s stupid. You want to prevent crime, Turn your attention to social programs, immigration and our education regime.
Immigration enforcement yes, but your other solutions, while valid, are extremely long term. The fastest path to reducing our current violent crime rate, given the derisory sentences set out in our Penal Code and the extremely high rate of recidivism, is to legislate to keep the recurrent violent offenders locked up rather than turning them loose after a few weeks to re-offend. Of course that would require our politicians to give a sh$t – so probably not a viable suggestion.
And personal firearm ownership.
When will you all realize you are living like cattle? Working day in and day out to be broke at the end of the month and your government can’t even fulfil its promise of maintaining a decent justice system but, you don’t want the man/woman in the struggle with you to have a firearm. Instead you want big daddy government to be the only ones with guns (which they fail at) and the means to tell you what you can and cannot own while they live behind gated communities, skirt prosecution and break laws on your dime.
Every time I post about firearm ownership I get downvoted as well.
It astounds me that so many people are fearful of others owning firearms in mass numbers. They always state the US as an example of what we don’t want to become as if owning firearms will automatically get us to that stage. They never look at places like Switzerland, Norway, Canada, where gun ownership is legal and the rate of shootings is nowhere near that of the US.
I just want all those people who are blindly opposed to firearm ownership, admit that you fear others like you owning the means to defend themselves but that doesn’t stop anyone from hurting you if they really wanted to. Half of you probably don’t even know how to fight or even done some type of training. Firearms are the great equalizer. Put a 9mm in the hands of woman who practiced and which man is going to successfully assault her on south sound while she is jogging, minding her own business.
Then realize that when you need help, the police are weeks away from doing anything and your own government wants to control your safety but doesn’t trust you to even own pepper spray. You are not allowed to blend some scotch bonnet peppers and place it in a bottle unless you are willing to suffer legal consequences.
The criminals already have guns so these laws are only there to control and stop law-abiding citizens from realizing how incompetent the government is.
So just ask yourself, would you run to help your neighbour if you know the person/s attacking your neighbour had weapons you aren’t allowed to own or use? Do you then expect anyone else to put themselves at risk for you? And if we are all compartmentalized to our own lives and don’t have a sense of community, where are we heading as a nation on a tiny rock?
People slavering to own guns shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near them. Why on earth do you imagine we would end up like Switzerland and not like Honduras or Florida? Every time some wannabe Rambo suggests they should be allowed guns I just think possession should be increased from 10 years to life off island.
We may end up in a bad situation, we may end up better than we are now. But as it stands a set of criminals have free reign and are absolutely emboldened to run around robbing any store and person they want after hours.
Your stance sounds like that of a person who lives very comfortably and has this naive sense of security which results in this selfishness of ‘other people shouldn’t have firearms because I don’t want to feel uncomfortable.. they should just buy a security system and change their lifestyle to be like mine instead’.
People are going inside and staying there once its dark out and what does that say to rest of the world. A tiny island which boasts to be one of the safest in the world is losing its grip and there is absolutely nothing that those in charge can do.
But tell me, which gated development do you live in? How far are you from the reality of life? I’m sure you don’t have to go out after dark by the sounds of it.
Are you sure when the criminals become more brazen and you fall into their sights that the police will be able to bring you a sense of security?
Probably not many times you visit the reality us ‘poors’ have to live in. Oh, when was the last time you drove past prospect?
What a pile of crap. We can’t trust people to put their indicators on when turning far less give these fools a gun. Wanna play Dirty Harry? Then jump on thr next flight to Miami. Moronic suggestion.
11.06pm
I dont agree with the poster 100, but there are valid points there.
On the other hand,You think having people who forget to feed their dog is a better option?
Sitting ducks that can’t defend themselves. I think if we had a third helicopter we could get this solved.
sarcasm people
Yes, one that can hover over houses for an extra hour.
The police need to watch the stolen things going on Honduras and Jamaica flights for money and stolen goods and victims of robbery now being stalked by these robbers and doorstep robberies Beware Cayman they are destroying this place .Time for immigration to address this situation .
“we are encouraging businesses to take precautions… employ additional security measures…”
This is all well and good to say, but no security guard armed with a badge can take 2 people with knives or guns and I don’t expect them to jump into a losing battle to lose their life for minimum wage
The police and CIG can make all the statements they want about the public and businesses taking more responsibility for their safety but it’s useless when we aren’t allowed to own the tools to do so. We aren’t even allowed to have pepper spray unless we are willing to suffer legal consequences by our government.
So miss me with all this PR speak about taking extra caution.
So basically, what this Jamaican-dominated police service is telling the public: “lol we ah try still, but speeding tickets are much easier work cause you actually come to us and we na haffi investigate further. try so lock up ya business like fort knox cause we might close out 2 cases out of 50 for the year”
On another note – knocks on wood – how is it that jewelry stores with their doors wide open, and a scrawny phillipeno security guard for protection, somehow never get robbed, but poor ole subway and mcruss did for what – $52.73?
Because they are slap bang in the middle of town with a billion witnesses, NASA quality CCTV, 1 minute from GT police station and fewer escape routes.
The civil unrest and lawlessness are to be expected. Cramming the island with as many people as possible, cost of living going through the roof and MLA’s flouting laws on the regular. Inevitable really.
Self entitled cowardly punks. No more lenient sentences. HEAR THAT JUDGES?
Not happening, they wearing rose gold coloured ear buds.
hands up if you have not been stuck up?
(this is not a stick up)
don’t worry …the police farce are on it….zzzzzzzzz
maybe the owner should call wayne panton as well as the police…he seems pretty good at sorting stuff out
Don’t blame RCIPS. They can’t be anywhere at once….
There are over 600 of them so maybe they could be somewhere in the public view.
Cashless is the only way to go. Got’s me a debit card.
I would not advertise that – soon the robbers going to drag your backside to the nearest ATM and force you to withdraw your money. That is what is coming next.
Glad I’m with Butterfield. They’ll be driving me round all night trying to find an ATM!
I would not advertise that – soon the robbers going to drag your backside to the nearest ATM and force you to withdraw your money. That is what is coming next. If you have no money they simply going to shoot you as a lessen to others.
The only solution is to bring in more competent police, prosecutors and judges and to re-write our laws to get serious with these criminals.
Robbing a sandwich store, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
So, Mr. Robber, you terrorise minimum wage workers for a few dollars. Get a job yourself you absolute waste man. Aside from the embarrassment of hitting a sandwich joint, what other places you planning on? a charity shop? pet store? Healthcare provider?
Seriously, grow up and stop targeting the most vulnerable people on the island while holding a gun, or fake gun. You’re an idiot.
Bobo if they not robbing businesses you now where they will come next? Be carful what you wish for buddy.
I guarantee this waste of humanity isn’t going to target me. I’ve got more respect for the crackheads that beg in central GT.
Yep. Risk of a minimum 7 year stretch for whateverSubway has in the till, when most people buy with plastic.Desperate, addicted or stupid
Nah – they probably realize that it is more likely that they will get struck by lightning than getting arrested, successfully prosecuted and actually jailed.