One of the victims kidnapped by gunmen
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Authorities were yesterday searching for the men responsible for three armed robberies in New Providence.
The incidents took place within 12 hours.
In the first incident, police said a man walking on Fire Trail Road shortly after 1 p.m. was approached by two gunmen who forced him into a red Honda Accord and drove him to Cowpen Road where they robbed him of cash and a cell phone.
The armed men then released the man and drove away.
In the second incident, a man walking on Fifth Street, Coconut Grove, shortly after 9 p.m. was approached by three men, one of whom was armed, and robbed him of cash, according to police.
Additionally, authorities said a gunman robbed a man, who had just arrived at a residence on Turnquest Avenue, Stapledon Gardens around 1 a.m. of cash and a cell phone.
The assailant then got into a white Nissan Cube and drove away.
Last month, authorities cautioned residents, particularly those in the southwestern part of the island, of walking late at night.
The warning came amid a series of armed robberies in recent weeks.
At the time, Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash said police have seen a number of robberies in the Carmichael Road area where people walking late at night became victims of robberies.
He also said there have been several instances where business owners have been targeted while transporting large cash deposits.
Cash said he believed many of these incidents were crimes of opportunity.
“We have seen one or two armed robberies that occurred over the last [week] and the previous week, but again I don’t put numbers of these incidents because one is one too many,” he said.
“We have noticed in the southwestern district there are one or two streets — when I say southwestern, I am referring to the Carmichael Road area — we have seen one or two armed robberies where persons were walking… and they were the target of incidents of armed robberies.”
Cash said appropriate steps were taken to address the trend in that area and authorities remain focused on their crime fighting strategies across the country.
Crime statistics released earlier this month show that armed robberies were down six percent for the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2018.
Robbery declined 26 percent, and attempted robbery dropped by 29 percent period-over-period.
