Brazen robbers hit Old Harbour bank

Business was running smoothly inside the National People’s Co-operative (PC) Bank (PC) Bank when the men, posing as customers, pulled handguns and demanded cash.

This was about 1:45 pm, according to the police.

They ordered the workers to take them to the vault where “over four million dollars in cash” was stolen.

Before escaping the criminals physically abused a female security guard on duty and took away her service pistol.

All four managed to escape before security personnel and the police could arrive.

Commander in charge of the Old Harbour policing district, DSP Damion Manderson, said: "The challenges are real I am encouraging everyone to install cameras and to ensure that at least one is turned strategically to the public area in such a manner to capture faces and license plate numbers."

The police say have no lead at this time.

"I also crave for you to say something when you see or hear something," added Manderson. "You have my number you don’t have to say who you are... the information is of greatest value... we can’t do this without you!"

Robberies and break-ins on the island have risen despite the implementation of nightly curfews islandwide.

The police in Old Harbour have been urging citizens to be more vigilant. However, this level of brazenness today by these armed thugs is likely to drive more fear into the hearts of law abiding citizens.

President of the Old Harbour Chamber of Commerce Treacha Reid-McCalla is calling for the urgent installation of JamaicaEye throughout the town.

Condemning the actions of the robbers, Reid-McCalla said to Old Harbour News: “What happened today could have happened to anyone of us in the business community or the wider community. Like the police, we too are calling on every decent citizen of Old Harbour speak out and provide the police with whatever information they have that could bring these evil persons to justice.

“It is high time that the government expedite the installing of cameras in our town, which is long overdue. The fact that these criminals were successful in robbing a bank, others are likely to become embolden because they see Old Harbour as pickings to carry out such despicable acts.”

Old Harbour News was unable to get an official comment from bank.