By Stephanie Elliott, Freelance WriterFOUR ARMED men in a daring daylight robbery of the Red Stripe distribution outlet, Paisley Avenue, Palmers Cross, Clarendon yesterday made off with $2.5 million in cash and cheques.
The May Pen police report that about 6 o'clock yesterday morning, the men, dressed in police uniforms and bullet-proof vests, went to the Red Stripe distribution outlet and identified themselves as policemen. They then told the security guards on duty that they were responding to an alarm made from the compound.
The security guards, having been convinced that the men were indeed police, allowed them onto the compound. The robbers tied up the security guards and lay in wait for the accountant. On her arrival, they held her at gunpoint and took her to the vault where she was forced to open it. Cash and cheques amounting to $2.5 million were taken. The men escaped in a silver grey Toyota motor car which the police say was stolen in the Toll Gate area on March 29. The car has been seized by the police.
Deputy Superintendent of Police in charge of crime in the parish, Clinton Laing, told The Gleaner that about 8:30 yesterday morning, intelligence received indicated the whereabouts of the motor vehicle used in the robbery. Ten patrols were activated, two of which were specifically sent to Board Villa district in Hayes, to apprehend the men.
The motor vehicle was seen parked in a yard. The police accosted four persons who were in the house. One man was held, but the other three escaped. The police are still searching for the other men.
The operation led to the recovery of: one AR9 nine millimetre Luger sub-machine gun; a Mack 11 sub-machine gun; one .380 pistol suspected to be one which was stolen from a policeman in January; one Taurus .38 revolver; one Smith and Wesson revolver; and one Ruger .37 Magnum. Five assorted magazines and 49 rounds of assorted cartridges, along with a military camouflage, were also found.
Assistant Superintendent Wayne Cameron of the Clarendon police said that a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) helicopter was called in to assist in the search for the men whom, it is believed, have fled to the nearby hills. He noted that intelligence suggest that the men are heavily armed and are equipped with bullet-proof vests. A strong contingent of police from various police stations are combing the area for them.
