A bold team of bank robbers made a daring daylight raid on a branch of the Royal Bank of Canada in Spanish Wells yesterday, escaping with an undisclosed amount of money.
Despite the volatile nature of the incident, which included the taking of a hostage and a boat chase by armed locals, no one was reported to have been hurt.
Bank employee Marsha Pinder, who was taken as a hostage from the Spanish Wells branch in Eleuthera, was released by the gang as they made their escape.
The timing of yesterday’s raid raised questions as to whether the robbers had inside information concerning the procedures of the bank, as the robbery took place at the time the officers, escorting a quantity of cash, were scheduled to arrive.
The gang reportedly arrived on the island by boat and entered the bank through its back door.
Police say they took Mrs. Pinder hostage as they retreated to their vessel and released her as they fled in the boat.
Local men are reported to have armed themselves and given chase to the robbers in several vessels.
According to Superintendent Hulan Hanna the men were followed to the Bogue area of North Eleuhera, where their boat was found empty.
Source: Paco Nunez, The Tribune
