Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/5165/-1/140/
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POLICE SAY THEY ARE SIMILARITIES IN ARMED ROBBERIES Steady Progress In Murder Cases
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As Anguilla was struck by the third armed robbery in recent days, the Police told a press briefing on Wednesday this week that all of the robberies were similar in nature and that the descriptions of the masked men were all alike.
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Supt. Proctor and Ag. Comm. Richardson
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Superintendent Rudolph Proctor, who was accompanied by Acting Police Commissioner, Illidge Richardson, at the briefing with reporters, made the statement as he reported the third robbery which occurred about 11 pm on Saturday, September 1 at the Chinese Restaurant near the Stoney Ground Primary School.
The report to the Police was that just about two minutes to that hour two masked gunmen approached the restaurant and ordered the staff and patrons there to empty their pockets and robbed them. One patron had to give up well over US$380. About US$217 was taken from the restaurant. Other items taken from the victims included cellular phones, credit cards and wallets.
“The assailants were masked and they were both armed with pistol type weapons,” Superintendent Proctor told the reporters. “One is said to be short, dark and around five feet; and the other is said to be tall and fair-skinned and just over six feet tall. There were no injuries from the incident. One of the witnesses on the scene indicated to the Police that they left on foot in the direction of the Stoney Ground Primary School.”
“The senior Police official went on: “This is a very serious incident and the Police is again appealing for information from anyone who may have witnessed the persons escaping from the scene or seeing them approaching the restaurant before and who can provide us with any details about capturing these persons to come forward.
“We know that in early August there was one robbery just outside English Rose Restaurant with similar descriptions of the persons. There was another robbery around the end of July at Erato Restaurant just next to Caines’ Bakery where the patrons were robbed of their personal effects and money. Again the descriptions were similar.
“We are warning the public to be on the lookout for these two armed robbers and appealing to anyone in the public with information to come forward. So far they have not caused any serious injuries to their victims, but they can be considered to be dangerous.”
In other matters, Proctor said the Police were making steady progress in their murder investigations. “In relation to the murder of Devon Ryan of Blowing Point, we are covering some ground with information coming in which is assisting the investigations; and it is just a matter of time before we probably might be in a position to make an arrest,” he reported.
With respect to the murder of Stacey-Ann Brooks-Laurent at South Hill, the Superintendent stated that the Police were working very hard to get witnesses to come forward to provide more information.
“From our inquiries, there is a strong indication that a second vehicle might be involved. We are appealing to any person who might have seen a vehicle getting away from that area to provide us with any information on make, numbers or colour of that vehicle…
“I am pleased to say that the way things are looking as far as the investigations into the murder of young Devon Ryan, we are making some steady progress. I am pretty confident that if the information flow continues the way it is doing, we would be in a position sooner or later to bring some resolution to that matter.”
Proctor continued: “It has been a full and compact August for us in the Investigative Department and now that we are beginning to get information, we are pursuing it to bring these matters to a resolution.
“We have a wanted poster out for a man who we are desperately looking for (Devon Otto ‘Super’ of St. Kitts). We want to appeal to the public and those who might be assisting him, to evade police and immigration officials, to desist from doing so and to ask him to turn himself in to the police. We will be vigorously stepping up [our efforts] another level to find this person who is very, very important to what we are doing as far as the investigations are concerned.” According to Proctor, there is evidence that Otto, who reportedly has family connections and a number of friends in Anguilla, is still on the island - one reason being that there have been reported sightings of him.