Police Update: Security Van Ambushed
[Updated with videos] Armed men ambushed the security van forcing the guards to get the staff to open the door in yesterday morning’s armed robbery in Sandys, the police confirmed this afternoon.
At approximately 8.15am yesterday morning a group of men committed the armed robbery at the Arnolds Warehouse in the Hitching Post building on Middle Road in Sandys.
No one was injured, however the suspects escaped with a quantity of cash. The police said “the victims are understandably very upset at the incident.”
Initially reported as five men, the police said today there were four men. All the suspects were wearing dark coloured clothing, gloves, black full face helmets with dark coloured visors. They are believed to have left the scene on motorcycles heading West towards Somerset Bridge.
Speaking at a press conference today [Dec.29], Acting Chief Inspector Mark Clarke said “Investigations have revealed that four men targeted this local businessman, as well as the cash delivery van.
“They were ambushed by the suspects, some of whom were brandishing firearms. They forced the guards to get the business operators to open up the door where they were able to steal a quantity of cash.”
The video of Inspector Clarke’s statement is below:
“The company has not been able to give a definitive amount of the cash that was stolen at this time, but we anticipate they will be able to provide the exact amount shortly,” said Inspector Clarke. The Police also confirmed there is no CCTV in the area.
This was the second armed robbery of a business in the western parishes in two weeks, following after an armed robbery at Henry VIII Pantry in Southampton on December 19th.
Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone who may have been in the Middle Road, Wreck Road Sandys parish area around the time of the incident to contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010, the Serious Crime Unit on 295-0011 or the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.
Sandy’s South MP Terry Lister was also present at the press conference, and said it was “very disturbing” and said he is “confident the west end police will deal with this.” He said he is concerned for the staff, as being confronted with four people with guns is terrifying.
The video of Mr Lister’s statement is below:
Calling it an “act of pure crime”, Mr Lister said he “very concerned”, and said he would hate to think we will see incidents like this on a regular basis.
This robbery reminds me of the P.L.P. candidate Rolf Commisiong and how he tried to rob the bank !!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the people who worked at the bank still have nightmares. People of Bermuda is this the type of representive you want to represent you ? God help us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also Col. Burch, Once the IB community hears of his return for another round, we can expect more closures! He’s visiting the kids and schools now for votes, in his attempt to regain POWER!!!
Have you all seen the latest commercial with the Col and all of these kids ?
I have to say Burch looks like hell..and as regiment guy with his earrings….lord have mercy. and what the hell do these kids think of him ?
This robbery reminds me that Bermuda is becoming another Jamaica. Ire Man!!! Ya man everything’s cool…and we’re all broke! But don’t worry be happy. See ya suckaaass..!!
Talk about a low blow “ouch”
Reminds me of O.B.A candidate Shawn Crockwell when he stole $600,000 worth of Heroin from the court safe…People of Bermuda, is THIS the type of representative you want to represent you?
not good!
Arnolds should use RENT-A-COP off duty police. The security guards are a joke getting paid $3/hr and either old retired guys just looking to keep busy or younger hackle and jackles that are out of shape half-witted dreamers.
What will off duty Police Officers do? They will be just that, off duty with no authority to carry weapons. Whether its a secuirty guard or otherwise if someone pulls a gun on you it makes no difference as to what you are being paid.
and Mr. Shawn Crockwell stole drugs from the courts….WHAT IS YOUR POINT? If you are going to dig up dirt then dig it all up, don’t leave any bit of soil unturned. If the UBP/BDA/OBA don’t have any shameful doings in their past then they must be PERFECT and I do believe we are all far from that….GIVE IT A BREAK PEPPER
@grizz, you are right; what is good for the goose is good for the gander
GRIZZ, I do agree with you and thanks for reminding me of Shawn Crockwell..
Granted crime is crime but did Shawn Crockell hold a gun to anyone when he stole those drugs?
Who shot up the Southampton Princess?
JMHO, but there is a huge difference between robbery & a robbery involving violence or threat of violence.
Robbery inherently involves violence. Maybe what you’re getting at is that there’s a difference between robbery and theft. It is, and the law treats the offences differently.
Why are politics brought into EVERY single topic that is posted. If it is not politics it’s race!
I drink no form of alcohol…Ya mon!!! Errry ting is cool man!!
Reminds me of the old tv commercial..”come back to Jamaica, what’s old is what”s new.. We Want you to join us, so we can rob you-too”.
Leave Jamaica out of this,it’s a Bermuda problem!
Ever thought the dirt dishin is bein done by an oust PLP candidate…not necessary the OBA or watever they call themselves….seems as tho there were some pretty sore losers where that was concerned….but in the instance that it wz an OBA member…I agree come correct and DISH it ALL!!!!
Their are cctv cameras at someset bridge!
there*
For $300k I hear… Holding centre for all the stores. Inside job possibly? Scary times Bermuda!
I thought this was a robbery not politics.
Obviously UBP’s fault – or the white man. Possibly both.
no cctv in the area! I knew it! those cameras at Somerset Bridge are there to instil fear and the sense we are being watched when really we arent…isnt that a lovely caring government we have!
What is wrong with our Police, they too sleepy and laid back. If they knew these bandits went west, why the h ll they didn’t road block off the bridge for the whole day right thru to the night and put a dragnet all over Somerset to every know criminals house and hangouts to look for them and any evidence. Come on Bermuda Police, you wait on too much for inteligence where as you had the culprits cornered and all you had to do was snuff them out. Cha, make Me mad!
Couldn’t have said it any better!!
If they headed West.
It’s only one way in and one way out !!
Allow us to carry firearms! Then people will think twice about robbing others.
We clearly need another CLEAN SWEEP best thing to happen to Bda yet…
The underground is only getting smarter doing jobs that will land bigger pay checks. Places like this “Hitching Post” have been making millions year after year off the rent of Building and houses all over Somerset. You think people dont know?
Secondly, bringing Politics into a criminal investigation is all the OBA people have left to talk about. Its like a subliminal message to bring every topic to Politics to push their agenda before election.
What a bunch of jokers!! SMDH is this really Bermuda…I don’t know what’s worse the commentary on here or the robbery itself. So sorry for the people that were held up..It must’ve been a very scary ordeal. Bermuda this is shameful for various reasons: CCTV cameras have been installed in viable locations throughout the Island however 9 times out of 10 they are not operational or are in some areas at different times. There have been quite a few instances that if the CCTV was operational it would have helped to solve crimes/apprehend criminals. The question is who/what agency is responsible for ensuring they are maintained and are operational? No, the police can not be everywhere nor can they anticipate when a crime is going to take place. However, they are very slow to respond and do not seem to use any logical police tactics immediately after a crime has taken place (call comes in) ie. road blocks as the logical escape route heading West would have been through the railway trail after Somerset bridge. On their way to the call police could have blocked off every exit along the railway trail…like really. Damn!!! The current climate is a breeding ground for this kind of criminal mindset. Lack of true leadership we can all trust, lack of family unity, kids having kids – no real parenting taking place and lack of direction in general. We need true leadership and folks with some common sense in order to get this Island back on track…Be mindful we are no different from any other country in the world, however we once was ‘another world’..SHAMEFUL INDEED!!
I find it amazing that new guns continue to show up. It’s easy to assume that somone shipped in a container of guns and ammo, and paid someone on the docks to look the other way. Too easy if you ask me. Money for lives..shame on you. Who’s monitoring the monitors and who’s monitoring them?
what about the airport? how much gets through there?
Why do you think they’re new? you mean they are slowly bring them out….We as Bermudians were led into a false sense of security by being told by the powers that be that there are only a FEW guns on the Island….please!..just like it rains in the desert!!!!……….They don’t ALL have to share a weapon…..
Rolf Commissiong, Shawn Crockwell and let’s not forget one of the best legal minds in Bermuda, Charles Richardson, all committed crimes….and what??? They turned their lives around and became productive citizens!!! Like the bible says, “Judge not, lest ye be judged” and “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”…these men made mistakes but they learnt from them. I have more respect for someone like that then someone who keeps doing the same dumb s*** over and over again!!! I think its pointless to bring that ancient history up and I fail to see how it even relates to this article!!!
here here! well said!
they went west eh? so if they were smart they could have dashed onto the railway trail, changed vehicles and happily drove back east. stop blaming the police! its not their fault the society has become so ill that robberies are now so brazen. now lets talk about the security guards. my experience has been that most are overweight with little to no experience with respect to weaponry, fighting/defence, surveillance and/or common sence. what about instead of saying we “all need guns” we think about a program that allows qualified individuals such a right or at the very least have expectations as to the “security” of monies.
They probably didn’t even have to leave Somerset….sat in their house and listened to the sirens on the cars as they zoomed to Hitching Post…….SMH
I saw on TV a few nights ago a jewellery store in England where theives entered the store – a worker pushed the alarm button – you could hear a dog barking (lil nippy bark) and then white smoke was released into the store, the manager of the store was sitting behind a security mirror (see out but not in). The thieves thinking it was a smoke bomb quickly left the building
but….
as they approached the door, they were sprayed with a DNA mist – which would assist the police in finding and arresting the thieves by testing their clothing and exposed skin (and no amount of washing will destroy the remnants of the mist)
I thought the security was great, as well, there were the cameras. Businessess have to step out of their boxes in order to protect their staff and property.
DNA identification spray mist activated by motion sensors once an alarm is tripped. Brilliant idea. Gives the police up to two weeks to identify the perp.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/CanadaAM/20101112/dna-spray-crime-101113/
i agree with the DNA Identification spray mist
Just as it says,
Same S*** Different Day.
Well it seems one of our leaders is finally awake based on comments by Mr Terry Lister. I wonder why ppl worry about Jamaica when the people down there certainly are not worrying about us here. they had over 3 million stop over visitors last year FYI how many do we have for the past 10 years combined ?
People don’t forget DNA is worthless unless police have a DNA sample of the perps to compare with what is left at the crime scene. DNA is worth nothing unless you nab a suspect and in many cases nobody is even caught!!!