Virgin Islands hit with four robberies in eleven days

Banco Popular in Virgin Gorda was robbed at gunpoint on last Friday morning in the second of at least four robberies in the Virgin Islands in the last 11 days.

No one was injured during the robbery, which is currently being investigated with the assistance of people arrested shortly after the crime, according to a press release issued by Police Information Officer Akia Thomas.

On Wednesday, five days after the arrests were made, Ms. Thomas said she did not know if the arrestees were charged or released from custody. She also declined to release information about how many people had been arrested, promising in response to Beacon questions, “Everything will come in due time.”

Police did not provide descriptions of suspects or say how many people allegedly took part in the robbery. Ms. Thomas added, “Thea mount that was stolen is unknown.”

According to a notice on the bank’s Facebook page, the VG branch closed on Friday “until further notice,” but bank management could not be reached for further comment.

Later that day, at 10:47 p.m., someone reported being robbed in the parking lot outside Captain Mulligan’s Bar and Restaurant at Nanny Cay, Ms. Thomas said in response to questions, although she did not issue a press release about the incident.

There were no injuries resulting from the alleged robbery at Nanny Cay, Ms. Thomas said.

Asked whether a gun was used, she replied, “It’s uncertain.”

As of yesterday, no arrests relating to the incident have been announced, she added.

This week, at approximately 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday, two gun men robbed E&B Superette in the area of Nanny Cay and Hannahs Estate, later fleeing the scene in a green Kia Soul with no licence plates, according to a Tuesday press release from Ms. Thomas.

“No one was injured. The amount of money was not dis-closed,” Ms. Thomas said, in response to questions from the Beacon.

These alleged robberies come one week after Riteway Food Market in Road Reef was robbed late in the evening on March 13, with the suspect escaping on foot, Ms. Thomas said in response to Beacon questions.

She added that the amount of cash stolen has not been disclosed, and there were no injuries as a result of the robbery.

Investigations are ongoing, said Ms. Thomas, who did not issue a press release about this alleged crime either.