Woman struck by car, robbed

Woman struck by car, robbed
(FILE PHOTO)

New Providence plagued by near daily armed robberies in recent weeks

NASSAU, BAHAMAS — A woman was struck by a car and robbed on Wednesday, according to police.

The incidents came on the heels of authorities seeking to quash concerns that a recent spate of similar crimes is an indication of an increase in armed robberies.

Superintendent Shanta Knowles said the woman was struck to the ground on Wild Guava Street, Pinewood Gardens, by the driver of a champagne colored vehicle shortly after 6am.

Knowles said the assailant took the woman’s bag then sped away.

However, she said an officer observed the incident and a chase ensued.

The officer managed to stop the driver, and arrested a 26-year-old resident of Pinewood Gardens.

Police are also investigating other armed robberies and an attempted armed robbery on Wednesday.

A man held up by two gunmen as he arrived at a residence on Edward Avenue, off Jerome Avenue, shortly before 6 pm.

Knowles said the two gunmen held the victim at gunpoint and robbed him of a bag containing cash before getting into a silver Nissan March and driving away.

Another man was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of a food store on Alexandria Boulevard in Nassau Village when a gunman entered the car and instructed him to leave shortly before 9 pm.

The victim did not comply and ran from the vehicle with his keys in hand, Knowles said.

The assailant shot at the man, hitting him in the arm.

Knowles said the wound was minor, adding the gunman was unsuccessful in stealing the vehicle.

In the fourth reported incident, Knowles said an armed man approached a woman at a service station on Alexandria Boulevard, Nassau Village, shortly before 9 pm.

The gunman robbed the woman of her white Nissan Note, which was later recovered by police in Domingo Heights, Knowles said.

Police did not indicate whether any of the incidents were connected.

Speaking to The Tribune this week, Superintendent Solomon Cash, officer in charge of the Central Detective Unit, said armed robberies had not increased, despite the spate of recent incidents.

He cautioned residents and business owners to be vigilant and to take precautions to safeguard themselves during the Yuletide season.

He noted patrols were being increased ahead of the season.

Commissioner of Police Anthony Ferguson recently assured that Bahamians need not be overly concerned with crime in New Providence, notwithstanding “little challenges in respect to shootings and armed robberies”.

He said the incidents were nothing police could not handle.

About Royston Jones Jr.

Royston Jones Jr. is a senior digital reporter and occasional TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. Since joining Eyewitness News as a digital reporter in 2018, he has done both digital and broadcast reporting, notably providing the electoral analysis for Eyewitness News’ inaugural election night coverage, “Decision Now 2021”.