Fishing supplies store to close after string of burglaries

The 73-year-old owner of a fishing supplies store will close down the business after three break-ins in the space of seven months.

Olson Levy, who has run Ocean’s Bait and Tackle in the Breakers area of Bodden Town for a decade, said he had no option but to quit after the stress of dealing with the string of break-ins, which cost him thousands of dollars in stolen stock, cash and damage.

Levy added, “I’m very depressed. I’ve been serving the community in Breakers for the last 10 years at this location and three years at the corner. That’s 13 years altogether.”

He said that he had earlier been forced to cut his opening hours from a 9pm closing time to 8pm then 7pm because of fears for his safety in the store after dark.

Levy added, “It’s sad to know that Cayman has become like this, where a small business owner is too scared to stay open at night.

“I’ve been forced to close my business because of criminals in the Cayman Islands that the police are not doing anything about.”

Levy said, “It’s very stressful. This is my pride and joy to be here and to serve the community, but I’ve lost that pride and joy because of fear about who is coming into the store, who is coming into the island.”

He added, “Now I’m closing altogether. Anyone who wants to buy hooks and lines, I’m having a massive sale with 80% off.”

The burglars struck in the early hours of Wednesday, 3 Sept. and escaped with hundreds of dollars in cash, two flat screen TVs, a boom box, tackle boxes and tackle, including four cases full of tackle just in from Miami, as well as knives and 200 pounds of fresh fish.

They broke in by forcing doors and ransacked the small, cottage-style building.

Levy said the first burglary was minor and the thieves left without gaining entry, but the second caused more than $2,500 worth of damage as the thieves forced an entry.

He was speaking as police forensic specialists combed the store for evidence and examined CCTV footage.

Levy said, “It’s very distressing to know that you have worked so hard and these people are coming and destroying your place.”

“They don’t want to work; they just want to take what other people have honestly worked for. We’re in a new situation where children are growing up to be criminals.”

Levy added the thieves had also taken documents, including his will and property deeds and that bank details had potentially been compromised, so he had to change two accounts at different banks.

He said, “When I was growing up as a young man, all I ever took was a coconut. Now there are burglars that are doing thousands of dollars of damage.”

Levy said he had taken precautions against robbery, including hurricane shutters and doors thought to be burglar-proof, but that criminals had defeated them with crowbars and other heavy-duty tools.

He added, “The police need to be more active in the community, checking businesses at 4am. Only three things are on the road at that time of the morning – thieves, police and dogs.”

Levy added, “I’ve been coming back from fishing at 4am and people are doing crack on the street and nothing is getting done about it.

“The police have got to follow up on information proprietors give them.”

A police spokesman said on Thursday, 4 Sept. that two men had been arrested in connection with the incident after a Wednesday afternoon raid on a property in the Windsor Park area of George Town in connection with a separate investigation.

It is alleged officers recovered several items linked to the bait store break-in, including a cooler full of fish and speakers.

The spokesman said, “The RCIPS remains committed to keeping our citizens safe through regular and targeted patrols, designed to disrupt criminal activity and provide public reassurance.

“In addition, we vigorously pursue and prosecute perpetrators of crime.”

He added, “We continuously reevaluate our strategies and redirect our resources based on intelligence and what trends and incidents we are seeing in various areas and this includes the Bodden Town district.”

The spokesman said that members of the public who spot anything suspicious should contact the emergency 911 number.