Owners at West Bay’s Alfresco Restaurant declined to comment yesterday on Wednesday night’s armed robbery, the second at the popular waterfront spot, while police seek the driver of a black SUV who witnessed the getaway.

Police issued a call yesterday for the driver of the car, thought to be a Ford Explorer, to contact officers at the West Bay Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

“The driver of a black SUV … was forced to stop the vehicle as the robbers ran from the scene,” police said.

“As the armed men ran off from Alfresco’s and turned left into Townhall Road, they ran in front of traffic, causing the black SUV to stop.”

Meanwhile, restaurant staff declined to offer any information about the robbery, while Alfresco owner Al Ebanks refused to discuss the incident.

“I have no comment”, he said, declining to say if any injuries or damage had occurred or what may have been taken.

The episode took place on Wednesday night at 9:46 when, according to a female staffer, two men entered the premises wielding guns.

They robbed the staff of an unspecified “sum of cash”, the report said, then fled on foot, running up Townhall Road, forcing the black SUV to stop.

“The first suspect,” police said, was tall, muscular and dressed in gray baggy camouflage pants and black shoes.

The report said little about the second suspect, only that he was shorter than the first and wearing a black t-shirt.

“No shots were fired,” police said.

Wednesday’s incident marks the second time Alfresco has been hit by thieves. On 30 September last year two masked and armed men entered the restaurant at 8:00pm, taking money from a chef and two customers.

Detective Constable Nathan Turner said yesterday it was “ important that the driver of the car contacts West Bay CID.”

Anyone with information about the robbery should call West Bay CID on 949 3990 or Crimestoppers on 800 8477 (TIPS).

Photo by: Christopher Tobutt