PHILIPSBURG--Two Chinese supermarkets were robbed at knifepoint on Wednesday. The St. Maarten Police Force KPSM has announced that its Special Robbery Unit is currently investigating both incidents.
The first robbery took place on C.A. Cannegieter Street in Philipsburg at approximately 11:30am. The two suspects, who were dressed in dark clothing, entered the establishment and threatened the cashier with a knife. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash from the cashier, both suspects fled the scene.
About an hour later, a police patrol was called out to A.Th. Illidge Road for another robbery at a Chinese supermarket.
According to information police gathered at the scene, two “relatively young” suspects dressed in dark clothing robbed the supermarket’s cashier. One of the robbers had a mask over his face and was armed with a knife, police said in a press release. After the robbery, both suspects ran away in the direction of Madame Estate.
Given similar descriptions at both scenes, investigators are treating the robberies as related, police said on Thursday.
