Caribbean News Now!

By Travis Cartwright-Carroll
Nassau Guardian Staff Reporter

NASSAU, Bahamas -- Local police are warning Bahamians to be vigilant as reports of armed robberies continue to increase on New Providence.

Several armed robberies were reported over the weekend by police.

Police Superintendent Stephen Dean said since the beginning of the year police have noticed an increase in armed robberies on the island. He sent out a warning earlier on January 9 advising of the increase.

Over the weekend police reported three separate armed robberies on the island as well as several shooting incidents and an armed robbery on Sunday that resulted in the murder of a Haitian woman.

Dean said if people see anything suspicious happening to give police a call.

“We’d rather come to a non-police crime than come to the scene of a crime,” said Dean at an event on Saturday.

He continued, “Any incidence of an armed robbery is a concern to police because that was high on our ticket last year and that is something we’ve given priority to this year.

“So once we see a trend we are going to do some things.

“We have been arresting a number of people and we continue to issue warnings to our people.”

He said police are being vigilant but added that Bahamians should not take anything for granted.

Dean said if you have to walk, walk in well lit areas where people are and to be aware of your surroundings.

On January 14, the United States Embassy in Nassau warned Americans living in and traveling to New Providence to be aware of recent reports of an increase in reported armed robberies following Dean’s earlier warnings last month.

It warned US citizens that shootings, sexual assaults and rapes also continue to persist in Nassau.

Republished with permission of the Nassau Guardian

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