Cayman’s biggest business advocacy group and a large local retailer backed calls for more police presence in crime hot spots and for retailers to beef up their security measures after recent armed robberies.
Omari Corbin, the president of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce, said that robberies in high-profile target areas such as the centre of George Town and West Bay Road threatened public safety, business confidence and the islands’ reputation as a safe destination.
“Public safety affects tourism, investment and the broader economy,” Corbin said.
“The Chamber will continue to work with the police and the government to keep our members informed and protected.
“We also encourage support for small businesses through subsidies [and] duty relief of cooperative purchasing to improve access to modern security systems.”
He was speaking after a spokesman for luxury jeweller, Kay’s in George Town, which had a “substantial” amount of jewellery and cash stolen in a lunchtime armed robbery earlier this month, said George Town needed more police on the beat.
Shared responsibility
Corbin emphasised the Chamber supported police efforts and that business security was a shared responsibility.
But, he said, “We also agree a more substantial, more visible police presence in key commercial areas during business hours would help deter crime.
“Feedback from our members identify this as a pressing need.”
The Kay’s representative highlighted after the robbery that George Town was a tourist area and armed robberies dented Cayman’s reputation as a safe place to visit.
He said it was luck that there were no customers in the store when the robbery happened, as an overseas visitor had left minutes before the two robbers, one with what appeared to be a handgun, came in.
Just hours later, a masked man with a machete robbed the West Bay Pharmacy at Centennial Towers. Although no one was hurt, the staff members were shaken by the incident, as spokesman for the business said.
Extra police pledge
Superintendent Peter Lansdown, a senior detective, said that extra police resources, including undercover officers and high-profile firearms units, had been deployed to “hot-spot” areas during peak times for offending.
“We target, we call them hot-spot locations, where the offences are generally happening. George Town centre is a hot spot. West Bay is currently a hot spot as well,” Lansdown said.
He highlighted Cayman police had a good record of tackling robberies and had charged several people in connection with armed raids in recent months.
He explained that CCTV was a vital tool in modern crime fighting, but that it often took time to sift through hours of footage and match descriptions to suspects.
Lansdown added that buzzer entry, although not foolproof, had also proven to be an effective crime-fighting tool, alongside other measures.
He dismissed the idea that Cayman was in the grip of a crime wave and insisted criminals had not become confident that they would escape, even after daylight robberies in the centre of George Town.
“We have always had occasional offences like this. Obviously, when the shops are open, they are targeted,” Lansdown said.
Security for robbery prevention
Corbin said the Chamber backed members taking extra security precautions, including “installing CCTV, buzzer entry systems and hiring professional security where appropriate”.
“These are essential tools – not optional,” he said.
But Corbin added that the driving force for the crimes also had to be examined and tackled.
“We need to work together as a community to address the root causes, whether social, economic or otherwise, while also improving enforcement and prevention,” he said.
Eugene Nolan, the CEO of the Tortuga Rum Company chain, said one of the company’s stores in a shopping centre on West Bay Road had been robbed recently.
He said he had been impressed by the fast arrival of police and that a suspect had been arrested “within the hour”, which gave him “a lot of confidence”.
Nolan added, “Of course, security is a big concern. … The safety of our employees is of paramount importance and being equipped to deal with the modern world is a priority.”
Nolan added most of the company’s 19 shopfront stores already had uniformed security on duty.
He said he also backed a stronger police presence, but that it did not have to be boots on the streets because marked police vehicles were highly visible and a good deterrent.
“It’s a sad indictment when you can’t leave the key in the door and the door open, but it’s the modern world,” Nolan said.
“I think it’s important for every retailer to bring in security. There are quite a few decent companies in Cayman right now.
“It can be done in a way that doesn’t look detrimental and make us look like a war zone.”
Nolan agreed that the increased cost of living had made some “desperate” and that drivers for crime needed to be dealt with as a priority.
The Cayman Islands Tourism Association did not respond to a request for comment.
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