The search continues for Patrick Anthony Campbell Jr. who is wanted for robbery and trespass incidents.
The 20-year-old is believed to reside in West Bay. He about 5’6” in height, of light brown complexion, with brown hair styled into dreads, and with brown eyes.
The police said anyone who sees Campbell Jr should not approach him, but instead make note of his location and contact 9-1-1.
The public is also reminded that it is an offence to obstruct the police by hiding a wanted person.
One suspected robber has been captured
On 14 December, a team of police officers executed a search warrant in the district of West Bay and rounded up another wanted man, Sidney Henry.
Henry made an appearance in the courthouse on 16 December where he was formally charged in relation to a robbery on West Bay Road on 25 October.
He was also charged with in relation to two other incidents which occurred on 3 December, in which tourists were targeted on Seven Mile Beach.
In the first of these incidents, it was reported that two masked men pulled a gold chain off the neck of a male cruise ship visitor at Seven Mile Public Beach. A woman who tried to help was pushed to the ground, suffering minor injuries to her leg.
In the other incident, An RCIPS spokesman said that a woman was robbed at a resort by an “aggressive” man who stole her wallet and phone.
Spate of recent armed robberies
Several other robbery incidents have occurred recently, including on 5 December, when a machete-wielding masked man robbed a convenience store in the Mount Pleasant Road area of West Bay.
On Friday, 12 December, armed robbers hit the Western Union in Small Deals Outlet in George Town and the following day, on 13 December, police officers responded to a report of yet another robbery, this time at a jewellery store on Fort Street, George Town.
Senior leaders respond to alarming spike in crime
In response to the spate of robberies, the commissioner of police Kurt Walton issued a statement on 13 December saying he was “aware of the concern that recent robbery incidents have caused within the community.” He added that he had authorised the deployment of additional resources to locate and apprehend those responsible.
Governor Jane Owen and premier André Ebanks also issued a joint statement on 16 December, saying that the recent incidents of crime are being taken very seriously and that a meeting had been called with the police commissioner Kurt Walton to brief the government and the leader of the opposition on the steps being taken to address it.
The premier said, “Acts of criminal behaviour that threaten the safety of our residents, visitors and businesses, are not reflective of our society and will not be tolerated.”
Governor Owen added, “I strongly believe that by working together, being vigilant, and utilising our skills in areas such as forensics and detection, we can reduce the sort of crimes we’ve seen in recent days and weeks and keep our islands safe for residents and visitors alike.
Chamber of Commerce expresses concern
Wil Pineau, CEO of the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce issued a statement on social media, saying the recent daylight robberies targeting jewelry stores and businesses in our tourist areas and in George Town was “deeply troubling.”
“The Chamber will work to raise reward funds for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible,” the statement said, adding, “Cayman remains a safe place to live, work, and conduct business. These criminal acts neither reflect who we are a country, nor the values on which our islands are built.”
Anyone wanting to contribute to the reward fund is asked to contact the Chamber of Commerce, at [email protected] or call 743-9122.
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is also appealing for anyone with information to call the George Town Police Station at 949-4222.
Anonymous tips can be provided directly to the RCIPS via the confidential tip line at 949-7777, or via the RCIPS website.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously via the Cayman Crime Stoppers website or by downloading the Cayman Crime Stoppers app.
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