What took place at a Front Street jewellery store on Friday (see related story) is obviously highly undesirable. Not only was valuable merchandise taken from glass displays in this “smash and grab” robbery, but a shot was reportedly fired inside the store, hurting an employee, while others including customers were threatened at gunpoint.
Unfortunately, these kinds of armed robberies have become a recurring problem especially in the Philipsburg shopping area, with all possible consequences for the local tourism economy. There were thankfully no cruise ships in port this time, but that had been the case on earlier occasions.
Most important here is that the injured staff member recovers well. Police chasing the getaway vehicle and detaining three suspects soon after also seems positive, although their involvement is yet to be proven.
In general, similar robbery attempts have not been very successful. A quick online search shows that in the recent past culprits were usually caught and often sentenced, in part thanks to increasing use of video surveillance and other security resources.
At least one was even shot by an officer. However, all that does not seem to stop others from trying.
They should know that their chances of getting away with it are slim at best. Even if jewellery cannot be recovered immediately, selling these stolen items unnoticed on a relatively small island remains a challenge.
In other words, would-be-delinquents ought to realise this is an extremely low-percentage undertaking. So those who choose to nevertheless do the crime had better be fully prepared to also do the time.
