A tiny grocery shop that has been in business for over 100 years has been plagued by thieves and masked gunmen.
Ms Scott outside the shop. Photo: Jewel Levy |
Thieves and robbers have targeted the shop more than 20 times threatening the owner with violence and driving her to distraction – but still she will not give up.
Arthur Lyn Scott, daughter of Arthur Bodden and now owner of the shop, says she has been robbed and stolen from so many times it is threatening her livelihood.
Thieves have broken in through windows, pried off backdoors, which she has replaced three times, smashed the front door and cut the floor boards with a chain saw and entered the shop from the bottom.
‘I could not name how many times they have broken into my home, the printing shop and the store. I stopped calling the police after a while because it just did not make sense to call – they never found the thieves,’ said Ms Scott.
Just recently the shop was broken into but the thief was finally caught red handed by police.
Ms Scott said she remembers a time when one robber held a machete over her head and demanded money from the cash register.
‘He came in the store at 7am dressed in a full black suit with gloves, mask and wielding a machete. I was bending down under the counter when I heard him come in. He hit the cash register with a machete and ordered me to open the register.
‘Shaking with fear I tried desperately to get the drawer open but it would not open. I told him I had some money under the counter and gave it to him. Luckily a car drove up at the time; he grabbed the money and ran out of the shop. Before he opened the door he pulled off the mask, looked back at me and gave me the most evil grin I ever saw in my life.’
Another time she said her granddaughter was held up in the store. A masked thief with gloves dressed in a suit came in the shop and pointed a gun to her face. She gave him the money and he ran. Later on she said they heard who it was, but nothing was ever done about it.
‘Thank the Lord just recently when the store was broken into the police caught the thief. I am hoping that he goes to trial for it,’ said Ms Scott.
She said when she was growing up nobody robbed the store. But in later years her father was held up a number of times.
One morning a robber came in the store, kicked her father and broke three of his ribs. Another night when he was returning to his printing shop from the store, a man was waiting inside. The man kicked him in the street and left him unconscious.
‘That time he was nearly run over by a passing motorist. Luckily the driver saw someone in the road and stopped. The police were also notified but nothing came out of the incident.
Ms Scott said another time her mother was attacked in their home. ‘My father heard her scream from the store and ran over leaving the shop door open. Two men with towels on their faces were in the house and they demanded money. When they did not get any they ran off.
‘A third man involved in the incident robbed the store while my father was in the house dealing with the other two robbers. My father knew who one of the attackers was and reported it to the police, but again, nothing happened.
Ms Scott also remembers the time a robber sprayed tear gas in her father’s face. ‘Two years after that he was still spitting blood because it had damaged his throat so badly, and it was only for a few dollars,’ she said.
‘My family went through a lot owning this store. I never went through as much as they did and nothing was done about any of the incidents.
Ms Scott added that the sad part about these attacks is that the shop does not even carry items of much value, only everyday items such as over-the-counter medicine, canned goods, kerosene oil, drinks and other food staples.
‘I love this little shop and the people that visit. I grew up right across the road from the store with my father and mother and it was a joy to me to serve the public. I moved out of the house after most of my belongings were stolen after Hurricane Ivan but I still visit the home to have lunch with my brother Truman Bodden,’ said Ms Scott as she fondly remembered the days with her family.
She said the goods in the shop are her livelihood and it gets very difficult to have to replace them knowing she is not of good health with medical bills.
‘My grandfather built the little store and my father took it over after he passed away.
The shop has fond memories for me. I remember struggling to get the kerosene oil back for my customers after Hurricane Ivan. It was a pleasure when I did.’
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