Cops arrest man in bank heist
Posted on Fri, 06/29/2012 - 10:13 in Crime
(CNS): Updated Friday 6pm - Police have arrested a 29 year old man in connection with Thursday morning's bank heist at the Buckinham Square branch of Cayman National snd have also recovered a quantity of cash. Following a police operation in West Bay yesterday evening one man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in custody while police follow a positive line of enquiry. The three armed, masked robbers who held up the bank had collided with an armoured cash van as they tried to make their escape in a white Toyota Windom getaway car. The crash blocked their exit from the car park so they fled on foot towards the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, dropping some of the cash as they made their escape.
The suspects were then seen to enter a red Chevrolet Equinox, which drove along the highway towards West Bay.
The robbery took place around 9:40am, when the armed men threatened staff and stole cash from the tellers.
The first suspect is described as 5’8”, wearing long jean pants, white shirt, a reflective vest and a yellow/orange hard hat. The second robber was said to be 5’11”, with a dark brown complexion and shoulder length dreadlocks. He was wearing a white or light coloured shirt, dark pants and a camouflage cap. The third man was 5’9” or 5’10”, wearing dark clothing, a yellow/orange hard hat and he spoke with a Jamaican accent.
Police say they received the call at about 9:42am following the Seven Mile Beach hold-up. On receipt of the initial call several police units were immediately deployed to the area.
“Officers, acting on the information received about the red car, set up road checks and carried out extensive searches for the vehicle. A short time after the robbery the car was recovered in the West Bay area. Officers are currently carrying out enquiries at two addresses in West Bay in connection with the ongoing enquiry," a police spokesperson stated.
“There have been some suggestions that officers took between 20 – 30 minutes to attend the scene of the bank,” the police said, but denied his was the case. “Initially the RCIPS had responded to those concerns by confirming that the first uniformed officer attended the bank 16 minutes after the initial call. However, having reviewed the incident, we can now confirm that two plain clothes officers were on scene within 8 minutes of the initial 911 call.
“These officers attended the scene while operational staff set up road blocks and undertook other operational duties relating to the incident.”
This robbery is the latest in a string of armed heists in the last few months. The last bank to be robbed was the downtown George Town branch of Scotia Bank, which was held up on Thursday 3 May at around 11:45am, when three men, two armed with guns, entered the bank and demanded cash. Four men, have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery in relation to that crime.
Christopher Julian Myles (aka Frank White), Kevin Curtis Bowen and James McLean, appeared in court Thursday 21 June following the appearance of a 25-year-old man who appeared in court on Tuesday 19 June charged with being an accessory after the fact all four are currently in custody.
Anyone who has any information regarding this latest robbery should contact George Town police station on 949-4222, the RCIPS tip-line 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477(TIPS).
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No hat or caps should be worn
No hat or caps should be worn in the Commercial Banks. It is very ironic that these robberies are usially on the last thursday of the month. Perhaps the Banks should change up their routine, every other month. There may be inside people giving out information. One other thing, workplaces have got to cut down on the cell phone usage on their workers. All the young interns are coming in and they are concentrating on the cell phones more than the actual work. If cell phones are not allowed in schools, why are work places allowing them, during work? just saying.....
West Bayer 16:50 I agree
West Bayer 16:50 I agree with your comments. I have decided to turn a blind ear and ey to these robberies because Management in these Banks and other places do not want to listen to any Tips given by the public.
Speaking of CELL PHONES. Why, and tell me why are these people allowed to use their cell phones during working time.? Why? This is the reason why people are accusing these Bank roberies of inside job. There is a reason the public is saying this, but no one is listening.
Employees should be able to receive EMERGENCY calls and make EMERGENCY calls from the bank only. Calls checking up on husbands and boyfriends should be done when they go for lunch. If the bank was to check the numbers called before and after robberies from cell phones they may get some big surprise.
if you actually look into
if you actually look into these young mens background of how they were raised or rather NOT raised you will see a large percentage of them are from fatherless families or their fathers not only deserted the family to chase more tail etc but are actually in northward prison.
the people committing these outrageous offences in our beautiful country are now breeding also. more fatherless children with fathers in jail. its something cayman should have addressed many many years ago but again. failed to do. it can only get worse now you shall see.
People like Truman Bodden and
People like Truman Bodden and John McLean are partly responsible for the agony current young generation is facing today. When they governed the country funds were directed to the business sector and the social and human development aspects were totally neglected. No priority was given for the early childhood education! Truman declared in the LA 10-12 years ago that there are no gangs in the schools! But we had gangs at that time and they have grown and now breaking banks. They were living in denial. This couple was more concerned about the welfare of the business people and themselves and spend most times on the party boats. PPM was going to correct those socials ills within 4 years and put us in financial troubles. UDP is not doing anything and indiciduals in power are looking at the projects based on personal gains they could derive from those projects. Our country needs new directions.
They need local security
They need local security guards,who maybe able to identify a person's accent/voice or even thier walk/size and shape.But as usual you get what you pay for.These banks prefer to hire cheap labour to secure people money.They prefer to pay $5 an hour to secure millions.
With all the security
With all the security measures introduced into this society in the past ten years or so, can't the banks have a panic button which is connected to the police or 911? - why would someone have to make a call? Usually these buttons would be situated where a staff member could press it without being detected. Maybe that's too much to ask for. The security companies have monitoring services for their customers who have alarm systems in their homes/business. Guess we haven't come so far after all.
Thanks, but they have. Why
Thanks, but they have. Why does everyone state the obvious on these blogs
A Thursday? Check End of
A Thursday? Check
End of the month? Yup
10 am? Check
A pattern.....absolutely.
Safe and prosperous and just
Safe and prosperous and just how do you intend to achieve that lofty goal by congratulating this system that helps perpetuated criminals. The milestones have long been crossed for the Cayman Islands for the very things you now speak sometime back, we are now merely funding our own demise and this draconian police state. If we don't stop and do a serious review of our actions and strategy the future is bleak for Cayman. Filling this place with Foreign police who couldn't care less but for this economic opportunity to enhance themselves and displacing our youth by imprisoning them because they have become criminal inconviences is a very expensive and dangerous proposition indeed. The current government budget is proof of this enormous cost.. Creating a whole new generation of criminals to please some here who can't find work in their own countries and couldn't careless whether our children our us live or die sounds about right. Poor old Cayman still believing their here for us. How truly sad for this little place.
All police cars should not
All police cars should not have scrambled to the scene. Did they expect the robbers to be waiting outside for them. Has the police ever heard of a word used by the natives call "Fan out". Well if they have not I suggest they find out what that mean and do it when they get such all.
The robbers passed the police going to the scene, what a joke. A ROAD BLOCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET UP EVERY TWO MILES BY POLICE.
I hope one day you all will get it right.
Yes, let us only arrest and
Yes, let us only arrest and imprison expats for crimes. Caymans can go free
What an ignorant comment.
What an ignorant comment. This serves no purpose but to divide the residents of our islands.
You have the entire situation
You have the entire situation backward. The draconian police state with foreign officers is not the problem. Parenting or lack there of and faulty education system are the core problems which produce young people who have no respect for people or society.
The extended family that ignore the youth that are going astray are not blameless as well.
I'd like for everyone to
I'd like for everyone to pause for a minute and look at the real issue here. The real issue here is that society has bred and condones criminal behavior. There are people in this society who have no values, who respect no one including themselves and who are now imposing their will on others by using violence and the fear of violence. It's the way they were raised, or allowed to be raised by their parents and the society around them. They were not taught discipline, the value of work, self esteem and respect and were left alone rather than held accountable for their deviant actions and received little, if any, corrective action during those formative years. Getting an education was never encouraged and was probably seen as hard work by them. Their parents likely defended their rude behavior and shielded them against being disciplined. Now we have a growing society of humans with the tendencies of wild animals; wild animals with a slightly more advanced brain that can scheme.
Now, we can have a police force who adapts within the laws to try to catch them, but they are only as good as the information society gives them and how well they analyze and use the information gathered. But once more, society plays a critical role. It either provides the police with the information it needs to catch and prove a particular criminal did the crime, or leave it to chance for the police to catch them. Criminals recognize this vulnerability that they face, so what have they done? They try to silence society through use of fear and force also. If and when society conforms to criminal wishes, things do not get better, they get worse, because bringing them to justice and holding them accountable becomes even harder to achieve. Witnesses in fear tell some truths and avoid some truths out of fear. Lawyers detect those and on the stand makes the witness out to be a lier. Judges cannot put faith in untruthful witnesses and hence a criminal walks and is emboldened to continue to practice their behavior.
Finally, there are some people who will try to justify criminal behavior with various excuses: blaming someone else; no jobs; no one will hire me; had to do it to get money to feed my 10 children; jobs not paying enough, I was bored and had nothing to do and the list goes on. Let's pause and consider that prior to the 1970s Cayman was not very affluent at all, yet Caymanians back then never robbed each other and seldom stole from each other. There were few to no jobs available back then, but men from 14 years of age, many with little, or no formal education and many who could barely read and write, went abroad looking for work as seamen. They took what work was available and did their very best. They became world renowned for their skills as seamen. Many became Captains, Engineers, Chefs etc and others remained the best boatswains anyone could find. The difference is that they had discipline, they had respect for themselves and others, they had ambition, they had values, they had the desire to do something with their lives. They earned a living, provided for their families back home and built a home for their family.
So, if we want a better society, everyone will have to work together to reinstill values that once made Grand Cayman the best place on earth and that all will once more be proud to uphold.
In response to: Anonymous on
In response to: Anonymous on Sat, 06/30/2012 - 08:32.
You said: {and I quote} The real issue here is that society has bred and condones criminal behavior. There are people in this society who have no values, who respect no one including themselves and who are now imposing their will on others by using violence and the fear of violence. It's the way they were raised, or allowed to be raised by their parents and the society around them. They were not taught discipline, the value of work, self esteem and respect and were left alone rather than held accountable for their deviant actions and received little, if any corrective action during those formative years. {end of quote}
Here, I am assuming two things,
1. That you are a Caymanian, and
2. You consider yourself a part the society of which you speak !
And, assuming my assumptions are correct, So let me ask you! What have you done to help alleviate the situation. Probably Nothing! Let me give you a little bit of history as to how and why we [meaning the Cayman Islands ] have reached the "untenable state" in which we find ourselves today. Socially, Politically and Otherwise! You speak of those days when men [myself included] went to sea and traveled all over the world and, how most of us, who, with little or no formal education, were able to excel in whatever job we were assigned, and did to the point where men with minimal education [6th standard] were able to {thanks to dedicated teachers of the time} return home as Captains, Engineers, Chefs, Radio Operators etc. etc. and became known throughout the world for our abilities as seamen. Today we send many of our kids to University and many return home with Bachelors, Masters, M.Ds etc. but are often ignored by those politicians who should be pushing to assist them in their chosen field of work, be it Public or Private Sector. But, I am not very hopeful that this will happen unless we change and improve the system from what it is today. What I'm trying to say here is that nine times out of ten when a young educated person "Caymanian" applies for a job and goes for an interview, the interviewer {public or private sector} is more than likely a Foreign National who more than likely {because they knew about the position long before it was published in a news paper} has been in touch with some friend or relative whom they will insist to their Boss is the best person for the job, thus the young Caymanian is left in the cold not just disappointed but sometimes angry,especially when they see all the foreign nationals that are employed doing exactly the kind of jobs they themselves are capable of doing, and in some cases may even have applied for. These are the reasons some young people become crazy and do the things, for which you are blaming their parents.!
Now Sir, Madame! Can you name for me any country in the world where the following major official bodies are in the control of Foreign Nationals?
1. Judiciary: 2. Police: 3. Health: 4. Social Services: YUP! Cayman
And in Private Sector:
5. Banking: 6. Hotels Tourism: 7. Real Estate Sales: and so on and so on.
UH HUH! Cayman again.
Yet we have Caymanians who are very capable of holding most of these positions but were never given the opportunity to prove themselves. Now! Because you may be one of the fortunate "or unfortunate depending on how one sees it" to have steady employment and a decent salary you now feel it necessary to blame parents who must both work to maintain some semblance of a normal life, and cannot afford to have caretakers for their kids and who themselves must take night time jobs to help make ends meet, thus unable "as much as they would like" to spend more time with those kids who one day {even after getting a good education} will get discouraged because they are being ignored by a Government which has no concept as to why these young Caymanians have become so angry and vengeful.
Yes I agree that like any other society we have some young people who have gone astray but that does not mean we have to give up on them. We must have training programs to assist them when they come out of prison and give them another chance to make it right for themselves and society. What we need are laws that prevents employers from using a minor offence to avoid hiring qualified young people.
Back in the day when we had Caymanian Magistrates a lot of us kids went to court for things like taking a few guinips or a few mangoes without asking. So we had to answer to a local magistrate who was empathetic and saw potential in us, and he would remind us, that he knew our parents, and knew that they were good honest people and that they would never condone nor encourage such things as those for which we were now before the Courts. We were not called names nor put down by the Magistrate, but were encouraged to do better.
So let me say that "I am" in agreement that we have a problem with crime but the problem cannot be laid solely at the feet of the parents. we all have to contribute to the betterment of society and we must admit that we all bear some responsibility for what is happening to our Island. And our leadership must admit that there is within the Government some elements that contribute to malaise we feel because of what we see happening and that could be prevented if we all screamed for justice.
Let me name one thing {the numbers game] that is totally illegal in cayman, yet some of the wealthiest people on the Island are people in the numbers game and openly carry on business but no one is ever arrested and or taken to court. Yet you never hear any politician talk about these things. We read about illegal waste of Govt. Funds. we read about illegal imports, we read about politicians under investigations for alleged circumvention of rules and regulations. So don't be surprised when hopeless young people see these things happening with no consequences They emulate those who are our so called leaders and should be setting examples for them. Whatever those examples are.
OH WELL!
Yes I am Caymanian, but I did
Yes I am Caymanian, but I did not grow up with this entitlement attitude that you are expounding. During my early childhood days, we never even had electricty 24 hours a day. My father went to sea. My mother raised us with what he sent home. She showed us what she received from him and explained how she was going to spend it; so much for food and living expenses and some to put in the bank so when our dad got home he would not be broke and have to spend his vacation working just to feed us. She taught us discipline and we had to do our share of work around the houose too. She assigned us chores such as sweeping, mopping, washing dishes, making our bed, mowing lawn, painting the house, and she allowed us to learn how to fix the car when it broke down. She taught us the 10 commandments and taught us self respect. She instilled in us that if we ruined our reputations it would be hard for us to get a job because people would not trust us. I hope this explains to you why you have the difficulties you or your friends have in getting jobs.
I would rather these criminal
I would rather these criminal types were locked up for much longer than waste money trying to "save" them. It has nothing to do with foreigners. Foreigners don't make anyone criminals. Criminals become criminals because they are greedy, selfish, arrogant, lazy scum. Don't give them excuses to point to people and blame them for their own wickedness.
The reason was your father
The reason was your father would beat you not the police or jail. You feared your father and respected him. He would use anything when he got angry and beat you with a hose, wire, belt ,switch.
But since all of that is abuse and poor you , we're using some new stuff .psychology. I am not saying some kids can hear some can't. Some kids beat their parent or parents depending the situation. But in that case why don't the laws change and beat the criminal in front of people. Like how people were hung in the old west in front of everybody including kids. Then they will learn from early. Sounds cruel eh? Well it worked for 2000 years and is still being used by lots of people around the world. Try the middle east . Their crime level is low. Ever hear of any people in the middle east stealing? When they do they cut off their hand for the first offence.
whats their punishment when
whats their punishment when they blow up churches or rape news women in public squares?
please move to the middle
please move to the middle east and taste the fruits of beating kids with wire.
One of the best posts on
One of the best posts on here...wish I could "like" it twice.
I'm the person who followed
I'm the person who followed the assailants and took the photo on the cover of Friday's paper. There have been a lot of comments regarding the amount of time the police took to respond...I'd like to mention that the police car I flagged down was speeding to the area with his lights on less than 3 minutes after the robbery took place.
you are a true heroe......
you are a true heroe...... i'm sure you will recieve an award of some type from the caymanian government.......
Finally, thank you very much
Finally, thank you very much for putting part of the record straight
Thank you so much for your
Thank you so much for your quick thinking action. Due to your action we may well get some bank robbers put away.
Yea, and I hear that a police
Yea, and I hear that a police car was in Galleris Plaza with the driver asking where is CNB!
When I worked in the
When I worked in the financial district in Liverpool (UK) in the sixties, there were stationed police officers in prominent positions with extremely nasty looking German Shepherds (dogs). I don't ever remember anybody being stupid enough to risk a daylight bank robbery. The cost of maintaining a few extra dogs in potentially vulnerable locations in Cayman must be worth the effect of discouraging these morons who think they can successfully get away with " daylight robbery " - more importantly, it would reduce the risk of an innocent bystander being wounded/ killed by a stray bullet from a panicked " robber ".
If someone comes to the door
If someone comes to the door with a mask, do not let them in. Shoot first and ask questions later.
shoot with what?
shoot with what?
Trick or Trea...... Happy
Trick or Trea......
Happy Halloween, punk!
Why do you wan to Harm the
Why do you wan to Harm the Police?
14:58: and their hearts are
14:58: and their hearts are pure. That is why they should not rob the banks. I will be seeking a visa to go live in Jamaica where they only rob the banks once every 25 years. It nah easy to pass those guards in the banks who is all dressed up with guns and more guns guarding those banks.
Yeah, that makes a lot of
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. The robbers are not murdering you, idiot. Obviously your life is a great deal more danger in Jamaica.
anon 2017 drop the cayman
anon 2017 drop the cayman islands to avoid roberies and trade in shootings for no reason. Isnt Jamaica regarded as one of the worlds murder capitals?
Anon@ 08:51 7/2/12, there two
Anon@ 08:51 7/2/12, there two 'bs' in robbery.
so read over your post before you post it.
That is not relevant to the
That is not relevant to the issue.
You guys are talking about
You guys are talking about road blocks at west bay.. DO U HONESTLY THINK THESE GUYS WOULD LEAVE ON THEIR HARD HATS & MASKS? noooopeee -________-.. set up a road block and im sure the police didnt find out about the equinox til later on..so it would be pointless. further more..they took 8 mins to get there... 8 mins afta the call was made (who knows how long after the robbers left the call was made) ..the criminals wud have already been west bay within that time.. THINK PPL THINK..dont just sit there and blame the police..blame the citizens also, im sure someone saw the ppl running into the car.. did they call the police? im sure someone knows something.. will they tlk? the police isnt always to blame. Also i think panic buttons should be placed under each tellers desk.. As soon as these buttons are pressed the loud sirens should come on! this would run the theives!
This story should be featured
This story should be featured on Z99's "Stupid News" segment...
We need the death penalty in
We need the death penalty in these islands like they had in Biblical times. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. If a hand causes a man to steal, then it should be chopped off. No criminals equals no crime. God bless our Caymanian people.
"An eye for an eye" will
"An eye for an eye" will leave everyone blind......That is what they have In Saudi Arabia and what is practiced by the Taliban....and that is what you aspire to???
Get competent cops on the case and a decent Judge - and throw the book at them ... no leniency for being local and give them 40 years. While no one was "hurt" - that is phycically hurt...what about the nightmares for years to come of the bank tellers, security guards and witnesses etc. There was a mandatory 10 years for gun and bullet possession, but I seem to recall that when it turned out that not all those caught were foreigners, this was dropped - in a campaign that I believe was led by a current politician...
We also do not need guns for security guards or normal beat cops - stop apeing the USA and JA - take a hard look at their gun cultures (this is where the Cayman guns come from!!) - is this another thing to be aspired to....
And I'd like to "know my
And I'd like to "know my neighbor's wife in my tent"
With all the police cars that
With all the police cars that I pass on the road every day, 8 minutes to respond to a location on central West Bay road seems much too long. In 8 minutes you can drive from George Town to West Bay. In any event, I'm glad to hear that they have a suspect in custody. I'm sure it won't be too long before the rest of them are in custody as well.
It's amazing what can happen
It's amazing what can happen when the public help for change!
This looks good - but much
This looks good - but much more preventative work needs to be done.
Eg the Mt Pleasant corner (scene of many assaults/robberies and an abduction in recent times) still has a permanant gang of people day and night in the lanes around the corner, in spite of the cameras nearby.
Meanwhile at least 3 police cars are parked at the station when you pass by.
I say park them at hot spots and kill the loafers' 'business'.
Yes, it will move somewhere else, but the blatant turning a blind eye to these people who are a nuisance and a detraction against customers going to the area businesses cannot continue.
It's also bad modeling for the youths coming out of school with nothing to do - and as we know the underage bays are used to traffic drugs, as they can't get sent to 'prison'.
Great news. Well done RCIP.
Great news. Well done RCIP.
Job well done,
Job well done, RCIP. Continue... we need you in making this island a more safe and properous place to live and work
At this rate these idiots
At this rate these idiots will soon understand they shouldn't be robbing banks.
Forget the arguments about
Forget the arguments about times, there is one road into West Bay. One road, one police car needed to block it at the Fire Station so how did the car get into West Bay?
Probably via Hover craft!
Probably via Hover craft! How else would it get there?
Given the fast pace of events
Given the fast pace of events I would think that the car was in WB before the police reached the public beach.
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