This was the second time in two days that a woman has been mugged and robbed in the area.
Police received a report of the robbery, which occurred in Eden Road, off South Church Street, around 7.15am Thursday morning.
The woman told police she had been walking to work when she saw a man sitting on a fence. “The man suddenly pointed what appeared to be a firearm at the woman and demanded cash before making off with her bag,” police said.
The robber is described as wearing a black shirt, baggy blue jeans and spoke with a Caymanian accent. He was last seen running in the direction of Windsor Park.
According to a statement released by police Thursday afternoon, the woman was not injured in the incident and immediately called the 911 emergency communications centre.
An 911 operator kept the victim on the phone and took details of the robbery and, while the woman remained on the line, passed details to the officer in charge at George Town police station.
Police defended a decision not to send an officer directly to the victim but to instead set up a cordon around the area where the robbery happened.
“In response to media reports that suggest that no police action was taken until almost 7.50am this morning, we can confirm that when the officer in charge at George Town police station ascertained from the 911 operator that the victim had not been injured, the decision was taken to establish cordons in the area in an attempt to apprehend the suspect,” the police statement read.
“The victim was made aware by the police, via 911, that an officer would not immediately attend the scene. However, on reviewing the incident we are disappointed that it took over 30 minutes for an officer to make physical contact with the victim at the scene,” it continued.
Police said they would review their response procedures as a result of the incident to ensure that this does not happen again.
On Wednesday night, shortly before 7.30pm, another woman was robbed – this time by two masked men, one of whom was armed with a gun – as she returned to her home in Webster Estates in Antoinette Avenue, off South Church Street.
The men demanded cash and made off with a small quantity of the victim’s money and some jewellery. No shots were fired in that robbery and the victim was not injured.
Meanwhile, police are also investigating a report from a woman in Bodden Town about a masked, armed man who was seen outside a home in Bodden Town Road, near the Tape Club.
Police said the woman told them she had been about to enter a friend’s home when she saw a masked man armed with what appeared to be a firearm outside the premises. The woman ran into tho the house and the man made off, police said.
“Police enquiries into the incident are ongoing and the woman will be re-interviewed later today [Thursday] in an attempt to obtain further details,” a police statement said.
Anyone with information which could assist police on the muggings in George Town should contact George Town police station on 949-4222, the RCIPS tip-line on 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers 800-8477 (TIPS).
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Crime remains out of control in Cayman. People tend not to talk about it when it’s not murders, but muggings are just as bad. Now you can’t even feel safe walking from your car to your house.
Cayman is in a state of serious decline. This will lead to an increase in gated communities and security guards, and a further change in culture.
It is hard to be critical of the police in this situation, because it’s difficult to catch a masked mugger unless an officer happens by. But I believe the government is still at fault. It has done little to nothing to address the crime problem. Is this the work of gangs? Is it a result of economic difficulties? In either case it is the role of government to determine the source of the problem and to work to fix it, and such action never seems to happen here.
reading the article it seems women are the current target of these despicable men…should I order pepper spray?
Speaking of Gated communities, take a ride by San Sebastian, I guess this is what the future of Cayman is going to be 8 foot tall security fences that only residents can get throughNext will come the All Inclusive resorts that recommend their guests do not leave their compound for their own safety you know just like in Jamaica and Haiti, watch what happens to all the local businesses and restaurants when this becomes the norm..