Armed robbers targeted a jewellery store on George Town’s waterfront on Monday, 20 April while the town was busy with cruise ship tourists.
The pair, one armed with what appeared to be a handgun and the other with a baseball bat, hit Rocky’s Diamond Gallery in broad daylight, smashing display cases and grabbing handfuls of stock before escaping.
Other store owners in the area said news of the robbery had spread “like wildfire” and cruise ship visitors taking in the sights had deserted the town and returned to the vessel.
The climate of fear among businesses in central George Town was underlined by the reluctance of victims of crime to be identified.
A spokesman for the store, who was present when the robbery happened, said, “They came in with a gun at 11:29am. It’s broad daylight and we had customers in the store.
“We had security on the door, but they don’t care about that.”
He added, “Personally, I’m really angry about it. This is the third time it’s happened.
“It’s a very depressing situation. I don’t like it, but it is what it is.”
He added that the thieves did not get away with much, but the damage and a forced closure while repairs were made to about six smashed display cases would cost the store.
“There’s a loss from not being open and I don’t know how long it will take to get the glass replaced. They are custom showcases and I’m not sure if it can even be done on-island.”
He added it was not worth claiming the damage on insurance because of the size of the deductible and that loss of business while the store was shut was not covered.
The spokesman said he understood that people had been detained in connection with the incident, and he had been told by police if the robbers were traced and convicted, they would face up to five years in jail.
“That’s not enough,” he said. “People should have fear of the police and of the criminal justice system – that’s what criminals lack.”
He echoed calls from earlier shopkeepers who have been robbed and called for a stronger police presence on the streets, saying, “When these kind of incidents happen, the police are down the street for a couple of days; then they forget about it.
“There should be more boots on the street, especially at less busy times when there are no ships in the town. But we had a ship in town today and it happened.”
The spokesman added, “I don’t know if the law needs to be changed so security, trained officers could be able to carry at least pepper spray.”
Earlier victims of robberies said most tourists had gone back to the ship within half-an-hour of news of the robbery spreading.
One owner of a store on Fort Street that has been hit before added, “We need a police post in the centre of George Town. Thieves are targeting us. It’s not easy and very traumatising.”
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I have suggested before that TRAINED Security Guards need to be armed with pepper spray and/or Tasers.
Plus serious sentences for those convicted of armed robbery. !0 years plus.
I am very scared.
Very interesting how many times robberies can happen and still stores don’t learn.
My sympathies to the owners and staff of Rocky’s, and other victims of burglaries, robberies, and crime.
Another example of a breaking of Cayman’s carrying-capacity, and “short term gain for long term pain” !?
Where is a National Long Term Plan or strategy/vision for these Islands? That should be a priority…NOT pork-barrel spending!!
Foot patrols suggested. Good luck with that. These hoodlums who robbed the jewelry store were armed. Are the police?? No. Someone could have been killed. Get it. There is a serious crime problem here, and the police are obviously unable to handle this problem. You need to arm your police force like the perps. Is there any security before entering the stores. Cayman is not a sleepy quiet island. It is a target for the cretins who come from wherever, thinking they can outmaneuver the police, and do harm.