The suspects abandoned their vehicle on Front Street and escaped on foot toward the Boardwalk, where two scooters were waiting.
PHILIPSBURG--Saturday afternoon in the center of Philipsburg turned into chaos when three armed men stormed Oro Diamante jewelry store on Front Street, just steps away from the Courthouse. The robbery, which took place around 5:00pm on October 25, sparked a large-scale police operation that continued late into the night.
According to police and eyewitness reports, three masked men dressed in dark clothing arrived in a small grey vehicle and rushed into the jewelry store. One of the suspects was reportedly armed and threatened staff while the others grabbed a quantity of jewelry before fleeing the scene.
The suspects abandoned their vehicle on Front Street and escaped on foot toward the Boardwalk, where two scooters were waiting. They sped off in different directions through the bustling tourist area, leaving behind frightened shoppers and stunned bystanders.
Within minutes, patrols from the St. Maarten Police Force (KPSM) arrived on the scene, cordoned off Front Street, and launched an island-wide manhunt. Officers quickly located the abandoned car believed to have been used in the robbery and began searching nearby areas, including Fort Willem, Belair, and Divi Little Bay.
Around 7:30pm, police arrested the first suspect believed to be connected to the robbery. Later that evening, a second suspect was tracked to an abandoned building in Belair, near a hotel. As police closed in, two men fled — one escaping toward the Divi area, and the other jumping into the sea in a desperate attempt to evade capture.
Officers managed to pull the man from the water and take him into custody. He was transported to the Philipsburg Police Station, where he remains detained for questioning. Items believed to have been stolen during the robbery were found in his possession and have been confiscated as evidence. The abandoned car and scooter were also seized for forensic investigation.
Despite these arrests, police say a third suspect remains at large. The search continued into Sunday morning, with officers maintaining a presence in several areas as part of the ongoing investigation.
KPSM has strongly condemned the robbery, calling it a grave threat to public safety. “Those who commit crimes of this nature will be relentlessly pursued,” the force stated. “The long arm of the law may move with deliberate precision, but it is unwavering.”
Police are urging anyone with information about the remaining suspect or the robbery to contact the Police Force of Sint Maarten at +1 (721) 542-2222 or call the anonymous tip line at 9300.
