Armed men rob Lombard St pawnshop

Bandits walked into the First Choice Jewellery Store and Pawnshop last week and after brandishing a gun at the manager, escaped with a quantity of gold jewellery and cash.

According to a press release from the Police Public Relations Office, around 08:45 hrs on Friday, two perpetrators, one armed with a gun entered the Lombard Street location.

Initial investigations revealed that the manager Rajendra Singh, 24, was alone in the establishment when the bandits entered and held him at gunpoint. They then took away a haversack with a quantity of jewellery and $100,000 cash and escaped in a waiting motor vehicle.

Last week, a senior police officer expressed concern over armed robberies stressing that the gunmen were “picking soft targets”. The perpetrators he added were young men looking to make quick money.

The officer said that despite the regular confiscation of guns, armed robberies are still occurring in the city.

Last week, two men walked into the Hilton Chinese Restaurant located at Middleton and Garnett streets and after ordering food, one pulled out a gun and they committed a robbery, escaping in a waiting car with some $40,000. Some of the money belonged to the restaurant while the rest was taken from a customer who was also waiting for his order.

Then earlier last week, armed bandits walked into the Kamboat Restaurant on Sheriff Street and after ordering a drink pulled out a gun. They escaped with some $80,000 they had taken from the restaurant and several customers who were there at the time.