2 robberies under investigation, police urge public to be vigilant

November 22, 2017

PHILIPSBURG–The Police Special Robbery Unit is investigating two recent armed robberies in which items and cash were stolen from two persons.
The first robbery occurred at a club in Defiance on Friday, November 17. The victim told police he had been attacked by three unknown men as he was about to enter his vehicle to leave the club. One of these men threatened him with a gun while the other two robbed him of his telephones, his jewellery and cash. The men then fled the scene on foot.

The second incident occurred at Johnny II Supermarket on Arch Road in Sucker Garden around 2:00pm Saturday, November 18. The victim said he had been sitting behind a cash register counter when the suspect entered the establishment, pulled out a firearm, aimed it at him and threatened to use weapon if all the money was not handed over. Fearing for his life, the victim handed the suspect an undisclosed amount of cash after which the suspect left the scene on foot.
Police patrols and detectives were sent to the scene to investigate this case and the area was searched, but the suspect was not found.
The police are urging the public, in particular business owners and managers, to take all necessary measures to prevent becoming the victim of a crime. They urge business owners and managers to take measures for the safety and security of their employees and their businesses.
The police also shared the following tips to prevent street robberies: “Avoid dark areas. Dark areas form a risk because most robbers tend to rob people in dark areas.
“Don’t go to automatic teller machines (ATMs) during dark hours, plan ahead and get your cash during safer times.
“Avoid carrying a lot of cash and other valuables. Trust your instincts.
“If you sense trouble, get away as soon as possible.
“Take a cab instead of walking home. If you have to walk, take some company along with you. Be very alert and observant.
“Keep your money close to you, preferably not in a purse that hangs free from your hand.
“Don’t advertise; don’t wear expensive or fancy looking jewellery.
“Install apps such as find my phone’ or ´find my mobile’ on your Smartphone. Make a note of the unique IMEI [International Mobile Equipment Identification – Ed.] number of your cell phone. If it gets stolen, the police will be able to search in databases. You can find this number by typing *#06# on your cell phone; the IMEI number should pop up on the screen.”
The police said if a robbery does occur, residents can do the following to make it easier for authorities to catch the robber: Stay calm. Don’t be a hero, your life is worth more than your money.
“Take a good look at the robber. Make mental notes about the robber. Give the dispatcher all the details you can remember about the robber(s) so the police patrols on the street can start an investigation immediately.
“Note the direction of the robber when he leaves. Try to get a description of the vehicle, if the robber uses one.
“Call 911 as soon as possible.
“If there are any witnesses, ask them to remain with you until the police arrive. If they can’t, get their name, address and phone number.
“Go to the nearest police station to file a report.
“Call the emergency number of your credit card company or bank; they can freeze your credit.
“Log on to your find my phone’ service, try to locate the phone and tell the police about your findings.”
The police are also asking the community to help combat and prevent crime by sharing information with them, noting, “The police cannot fight crime alone and need the assistance from the community to do so.”