Police are searching for robbers who held up two fast-food restaurants and a grocery store during an hour-and-a-half-long crime spree on Thursday night.
A spokesperson from the 911 dispatch centre told Cayman Compass that each of the three incidents involved two robbers, with at least one using a weapon to threaten staff at the various locations.
“The first incident was reported at [8:43pm] at Domino’s in West Bay; this was an attempted robbery,” said the spokesperson. “The caller reported that a male armed with a knife tried to get into the store but was unsuccessful.”
That suspect is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall and of slim build, and wearing a hoody.
“He eventually ran off behind the premises, with a person who is thought to have been the second suspect,” the spokesperson said.
The next target, an hour-and-a-half later, at 9:26pm, was the McRuss grocery store on Eastern Avenue in George Town.
“Two suspects, both wearing black clothing, with masks, and armed with guns, entered the store,” the 911 spokesperson said. “No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported. The robbers did make off with an undisclosed sum of cash.”
The men, who are said to have been approximately 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 5 inches tall and of slim build, made their getaway in what is thought to be a blue Toyota RAV4. A similar vehicle was used during an attempted robbery at the nearby Burger King on North Church Street just a few minutes later.
“At [9:31pm] two males, armed with guns, entered the location and demanded cash,” said the spokesperson. “During the incident, a staff member received minor injuries but did not require medical attention.”
In CCTV footage of the incident, which has since surfaced on social media, a frustrated robber can be seen banging on the plexiglass barrier at the edge of the Burger King counter while shouting and demanding cash.
However, after several failed attempts to gain access, both suspects left the store and fled in the blue SUV.
It is unclear whether the same suspects were involved in each incident or if the incidents were unrelated.
Tonight’s incidents are the latest in a recent sustained spike of similar violent incidents.
The current pattern puts 2023 on a similar trajectory to 2022, which recorded 47 armed robberies, the most for such crimes in a decade and the third-most active year in recorded history.
The matters remain under police investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the George Town Criminal Investigations Department at 949-4222.
Anonymous tips can be provided directly to the RCIPS via the Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777 or through the RCIPS website. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via the Cayman Crime Stoppers website.
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