Armed robbery at Black Rock supermarket: Holder spent $1,498 on shoes and bills

Theophilius Holder pleaded guilty to robbing Channell Supermarket at knifepoint and wounding a security guard. He told police he spent the stolen cash on footwear and utility bills.

Black Rock supermarket robber admits spending stolen $1,498 on shoes and bills

A St Michael man who held up a Black Rock supermarket at knifepoint in April 2023 told police he used the proceeds to pay utility bills and buy clothing — after first claiming the money was needed for medical treatment, Barbados Today reports.

Theophilius Holder, of Block 2B, Madison Terrace, Deacons Farm, St Michael, pleaded guilty last week in the No. 4 Supreme Court to entering Channell Supermarket and stealing $1,498.84 belonging to Channell Enterprises while armed with a knife on April 12, 2023. He also admitted to unlawfully and maliciously wounding security guard David Alleyne, having initially denied wounding Alleyne with intent.

Holder reappeared before Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell on Monday, when the facts of the case were read into evidence.

The hold-up

Acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod told the court that at around 3:15 p.m. on the day of the robbery, Holder — then 29 years old — entered the supermarket wearing knee-length black jeans, a grey hoodie and a camouflage mask covering his nose and mouth. He was barefoot.

Armed with the knife, Holder approached a cashier who was processing a transaction with a customer, reached directly into the cash pan, removed the money and ran toward the exit.

The supervisor on duty immediately alerted Alleyne, the security guard, who moved to intercept him. Holder struggled with Alleyne and shoved him into a nearby kiosk before fleeing the premises. Alleyne's glasses were knocked off and he struck the left side of his face against the kiosk, sustaining a laceration to the temple and soft tissue injury to the left side of his neck.

Arrest and interview

Three days after the robbery, police officers attended Holder's residence and took him into custody. During an electronic interview, he was asked why he had robbed the supermarket. "To get money to get my hand fix. It was injured," he replied. He subsequently offered a different account of how the money had been spent: "I buy a pair of shoes, a wallet, a light bill and water bill."

When Holder was later brought back to the supermarket for a point-out video, he addressed those involved: "I want to say sorry for actually frightening the cashier woman. Sorry for going into the cashier. Sorry for licking down the guard you know, nothing else."

Recovery and proceedings

During the investigation, $137 of the stolen money was recovered. Holder also handed over a pair of sneakers and a wallet, which he acknowledged purchasing with the stolen funds.

Defence lawyer Zaria Taylor appeared as a friend of the court on Holder's behalf. Justice Smith-Bovell ordered a pre-sentence report and adjourned the matter until September 11.

Source: Barbados Today