By: Paul Kennedy and Tad Stoner

Thieves escape with cash after armed stick-up: Staff left shaken after armed heist

Staff at a George Town pharmacy have revealed the moment armed men burst into their store during a terrifying raid.

Seven people were working at Valu-Med on Walkers Road just before closing time on Monday night. The masked gang leapt over the counter and ripped out the cash register before fleeing with a bundle of money. Dressed in army-style camouflage and wearing towels over their faces, the pair struck shortly after 8.30pm.

It is the second robbery in just a few days. On Friday a 56-year-old pizza delivery man was visiting a home when thieves pounced.

Shortly before 10pm the driver tried to make a drop-off at a house on Voictory Avenue, George Town when he was attacked by
a gang.

He was hit over the head before the thieves stole his wallet and other personal items.

Yesterday Christine Parker, the sister of Everton Parker who owns Valu-Med, said the staff have been left shaken-up by the ordeal. Ms Parker said: “There were two guys. Both of them had guns. Of course, they were both masked.

“One guy took the counter, in the front of the store, and the other took the counter in the back at
the dispensary.

“At the back, the guy jumped over the counter, while the other one, at the front, just walked around.

“It happened not much after 8pm, maybe 8:20. We close at 9:00.

“There were seven staff on duty, two at the dispensary and the other five walking around in the shop.

“The robbers moved very quickly, they can’t afford to stay. They took the register at the front, but couldn’t afford to wait, so didn’t take the one at the back. They went by the parking lot at the rear.

“They took the money from the back and they asked for money from the safe [in the office], but we did not give it to them because we can’t open the safe.

“Of course we called the police and they showed up pretty quickly.”

Detectives leading the hunt for the masked raiders yesterday released a description of those responsible.

Police say that although no shots were fired and none of the cashiers were injured, the staff were left traumatised by the robbery.

A spokeswoman said: “About 8.30pm on Monday the two suspects entered the premises.

“One of the suspects ran to the back of the store where he threatened the cashier with what appeared to be a handgun and demanded cash.

“The second suspect threatened another cashier and demanded that she open the cash register at the front of the store.

“When she did not do so the suspect ripped the register from the counter. Both suspects then ran from the store with the register and a sum of cash.

“As they made off from the scene the robbers dropped some of the money in the Leafy Lane area.

“No shots were fired and although no-one was injured in the incident the cashiers who were within the store have been left shaken by
the ordeal.”

The first suspect was described by witnesses as wearing a ‘soldier –type’ camouflage jacket. The second suspect was also wearing a camouflage jacket with a brown towel and a tam on his head.

Anyone who was in the area at the relevant time last night and saw either of the suspects before the robbery, or fleeing the scene, is asked to contact George Town CID on 949-4222. Information can also be passed via the RCIPS Tip-line 949-7777 or Crime Stoppers 800-8477(TIPS)