Three masked men armed with shotguns, on Thursday walked into the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce’s John F. Kennedy Drive, RND Shopping Plaza branch and robbed the establishment of an undetermined amount of cash.
However, one man, believed to have acted as a “lookout” for the trio during the 11:55 a.m. robbery, was arrested.
Although some of the money was retrieved, Police Press Liaison Officer Superintendent Hulan Hanna, told The Guardian, police have yet to recover the firearms used in the robbery.
According to Superintendent Hanna, the three men robbed two bank tellers, a male and female, and fled the building on foot.
“These persons then came out of the establishment and fled to the back of the shopping plaza, where we believe they jumped over a perimeter fence, and now they are the subject of our inquiries,” said Superintendent Hanna.
When The Guardian arrived on the scene, a black Honda Tiburon, licence No 4276, with tinted windows and windshield, was observed parked about six feet away from the bank’s main entrance.
The vehicle was reported stolen from the Nassau International Airport on Nov. 24, Superintendent Hanna said.
Police officers were observed collecting three discarded ski masks, believed to have been worn by the robbers.
As detectives and forensic experts arrived on the scene, The Guardian observed a woman, who identified herself as an employee of the security company which protects the CIBC establishment, talking to Central Detective Unit officers.
Several of the bank tellers’ parents gathered outside the establishment, as they were not allowed to enter the protected crime scene. Subsequently, however, the tellers were allowed to stick their heads out to tell their families that they were safe.
One reassured mother was heard saying, “I know she is safe because I heard her voice.”
At 1:25 p.m. paramedics arrived on the scene, indicating that someone inside may have been hurt. However, no one left in the ambulance when it departed at 2:10 p.m.
Superintendent Hanna confirmed that no one was hurt.
Later, four Strip Force officers, armed and clad in full camouflage gear appeared from the rear of the Shopping Centre.
Superintendent Hanna said that police are following several promising leads. Tipsters are asked to contact the Central Detective Unit.
He also issued a warning to business owners, managers and the public, particularly with the Christmas holidays approaching, to be extremely alert.
“Business owners and operators must understand that we are in a crucial time where bandits will attempt to rob these places as to have money to spend around the Christmas. You need to employ additional security staff,” suggested Superintendent Hanna.
He also noted that a number of off-duty police officers work as security officers to businesses.
“We generally want people to be vigilant. Persons are moving about in large numbers. A lot of money is in circulation this time of year, but if people are sensible and understand that criminals don’t take days off, then maybe we can avoid some of the things that traditionally happen this time of year,” he said.
He made a special plea to Bahamians to work with police officers in reporting any information on the matter.
By Khashan Poitier, The Nassau Guardian
