By:Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 16, 2018 – An armed robber attacked a Chinese supermarket in the capital in broad daylight Friday.
According to informed sources, a robber brandishing a firearm held up “The Best Grocery” on the corner of Central Street and Lower Avenue around 10 ‘o’ c lock.
The robber reportedly made off with nearly EC$2,000 in cash. It is believed another person was an accomplice who waited outside. No one was injured.
The “Best Grocery” was robbed last August and is one of several Chinese-owned supermarkets robbed by armed men in the past several months,
The David Lee Supermarket in New Road and the Daily Foods outlet in Russell Village have been targets for armed robbers.
There were 414 reports of larcenies and 81 reported armed robberies in 2017.
Police statistics also show 38 possession, importation and smuggling of firearms offences in 2017 and 395 possession, trafficking and importation of drugs offences in 2017.
There were also 213 malicious damage to property offences in 2017.
Overall reported crimes increased from 1,050 in 2015 to 1,665 in 2016 and 1,868 in 2017.