Staff shaken after being threatened in broad daylight
Raiders, armed with a handgun and machete, made off with more than $50,000 worth of jewellery after threatening staff at an Eastern Avenue store on Thursday.
The robbery – in broad daylight at just after 1pm – left young female members of staff at L&L Jewellery, badly shaken.
And, coming as it did after a total of 13 break-ins at the shop over the last 16 years, it may have proved to be the last straw, as far as selling jewellery is concerned, for shop owner Lita Watler.
‘Things are getting serious when at 1pm and in broad daylight, people can walk in with a machete and gun and do something like this,’ Mrs. Watler told the Caymanian Compass.
‘I am upset and concerned about the girls. And although I don’t think I would pack in the business altogether, it is possible I may stop selling jewellery,’ said 67-year-old Mrs. Watler.
Staff had noticed a group of teenage boys acting suspiciously at the store in Murryson’s Plaza the day before.
But, apparently because there were other people in the store, the youngsters left.
Then, on Thursday, five youths turned up, and while three went into the store and committed the robbery, the other two remained outside.
The raiders snatched gold chains, rings, bracelets, earrings and pendants before making their getaway.
Previous raids on the shop had always been at night, after the store was closed and when valuables were locked in the safe, said Mrs. Watler.
‘This was worse than ever before. This time they got everything they wanted,’ she said.
Police are asking for anyone who may have been in the area at the time of the offence to call the CID on 949-4222 or Crime Stoppers on 800 (TIPS) 8477.
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