Armed robbery at jewellery store in Santa Cruz: owners demand increased private security
Four armed men robbed jewellery from a shopping centre in Santa Cruz on Sunday 11 October. The proprietors expressed gratitude that no one was injured and demanded greater security.
Jewellery store robbed in Santa Cruz: "The audacity was very high"
A day after the violent robbery at a jewellery store located in a shopping centre on Avenida Busch and the third ring road in the regional capital, the business owners spoke with El Deber to recount what their workers and customers experienced on the evening of Sunday 11 October.
After 19:00 hours, four armed men burst into the premises shouting and firing into the air. They smashed the display case glass, took the jewellery and fled whilst customers and employees sought shelter. The shopping centre was crowded, as it was a family Sunday outing.
"The audacity was very high. We are amazed at the audacity with which they entered to commit the robbery," declared both Michelle Naves Lopes Sebben, commercial manager, and Daniel Almeida Sebben, general manager of the business, the jewellery store owners.
Michelle Naves noted that the premises had customers at the moment of the robbery. "Thank God nothing fatal happened, but they were bold to enter and commit such a violent robbery with so many people nearby," she affirmed. In light of what occurred, she called for greater security in the area and even the deployment of armed private security personnel for businesses. "There are such dangerous criminals at large, they are not afraid, they have no fear of anyone or the police. Here in Santa Cruz they already do as they please," she warned.
Naves observed that the police force is in a fragile situation and requested that jewellery stores and other businesses be permitted to hire armed private security personnel as a protection measure.
For his part, Daniel Almeida described the incident as a misfortune and recalled that the same business had suffered a similar robbery ten years earlier. "We give thanks to God that no officer, no member of our staff was injured. The damage was material," he affirmed. Almeida expressed confidence in the institutional response: "We are banking on the police's capacity, on the support of the Governor, of the commanders who committed themselves to resolving this shortly and to apprehending the robbers".
The general manager indicated that both he and his staff cooperated with all proceedings requested by the police, including statements. However, he revealed that the investigation was extended to one of the store's workers. "Personally I do not know if she had anything to do with it, I hope not; she was always helpful to us and we want to continue having her trust. But, who am I to stop an investigation," he said.
Regarding economic losses, Almeida indicated that they have not yet been quantified and that, for security reasons, that information will only be provided to the police.
"We are amazed at the audacity of the criminals who, in the heart of the city, with high foot traffic and on a Sunday, carried out the robbery," Almeida reiterated, underlining the seriousness of the incident in an environment of high public attendance.
Source: El Deber