PHILIPSBURG:--- Detectives of the Police Force of St. Maarten (KPSM) have launched an investigation into yet another armed robbery after two masked gunmen held up a supermarket on Union Road in Cole Bay on Wednesday night before fleeing toward the French side of the island.
The robbery occurred at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, when the two armed suspects entered the supermarket and confronted the cashier. According to preliminary police information, the suspects threatened the cashier with a firearm before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
After committing the robbery, the suspects quickly fled the scene on a scooter parked nearby. Police said the pair was last seen riding in the direction of the French border, once again highlighting the challenge law enforcement faces when criminals use the open border to facilitate their escape.
KPSM patrol officers, detectives, and members of the Forensic Department responded shortly after the alarm was raised. Investigators processed the crime scene, gathered forensic evidence, and began interviewing witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation.
Police have not yet released descriptions of the suspects or disclosed the amount of cash stolen.
The latest incident adds to the continuing concern over armed robberies involving scooters, a recurring pattern in several recent crimes. The use of scooters has made it easier for suspects to move quickly through traffic and cross into the French side before officers can intercept them.
Investigators are now urging anyone who was in the vicinity of Union Road around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday evening to come forward if they observed suspicious persons or vehicles or possess surveillance footage that could assist the investigation.
KPSM is asking anyone with information to contact the Police Force of St. Maarten at +1 (721) 542-2222 or provide anonymous tips through the 9300 Tip Line.
Police stressed that even seemingly minor details could prove crucial in identifying the suspects and bringing those responsible before the courts.