Bar robbed during business hours! Manhunt underway

Police are still on the hunt for two armed suspects who allegedly held patrons at gunpoint during a robbery at a bar in Sea Cow’s Bay on the evening of April 20.

BVI News understands that the two masked men entered the establishment around 8 pm, pointed firearms at two bartenders, and demanded cash. After securing money from the bar, the assailants reportedly turned their attention to patrons, demanding cash and valuables.

While the number of patrons present at the time remains unclear, sources indicate that the robbers successfully obtained money from several individuals. In addition to an undisclosed sum of cash, some patrons were reportedly stripped of high-value accessories estimated to be worth hundreds of dollars.

The suspects fled the scene before police could arrive.BVI News understands that investigators have since reviewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and questioned witnesses, but no arrests or charges have been reported to date. The investigation remains ongoing.

The incident comes amid a reported rise in robberies across the British Virgin Islands. So far in 2024, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has recorded a 12 percent increase in overall crime, with authorities attributing the uptick largely to organised gang activity involving burglaries and robberies.

Despite the surge, the RVIPF reports a 49 percent detection rate for all crimes this year, positioning the territory ahead of many comparable jurisdictions. Police credit advances in technology such as CCTV footage and DNA analysis with helping to identify and apprehend suspects involved in criminal activity.