Doony’s hit by two brazen robbers

It was a busy time on Albert Street today in the height of commercial activity, when two robbers brazenly jacked Doony’s Store. Police responded soon enough after reports of the heist, but up to news time, no arrests have been made in this latest City jacking. News Five’s Marion Ali has more on this story.

Marion Ali, Reporting
Two brazen thieves jacked one of the biggest stores in downtown Belize City shortly after one this afternoon. Doony’s Store located at Albert Street was held by two young men who arrived in the area riding on bikes. One of them entered the store while the other waited outside. J.B. security guard Elton Jex, was on duty at the time, and became the first person to endure the horrifying experience.

Voice of Elton Jex, Security Guard
“I saw a guy ride up on bicycle, parked his bicycle in front of the door. Our thing is, as security, once they park the bicycle in front of the door we would ah ask dehn fi mek dehn move dehn bicycle and put it on the side. But apparently, this guy did that same thing; park the bicycle in front of the door and that’s when I approached him. I said to him young man you cannot leave your bike in front of the door. As I tell him that, that’s when he point the gun in my face and tell me don’t move. I stand straight cause I was shocked. So he then proceeded and he keep the gun at my neck and he ask me to walk towards the counter to where the owner is. That’s when he walk me to the counter and he point the gun on the owner.”

That part owner of Doony’s, Manisha Sadarangani, said when she realised what was happening it was too late to escape.

Manisha Sadarangani, Proprietor, Doony’s
“I heard the gun crank so I know he was about to shoot; he would have shot if we probably would have resisted in any way. He just said give me everything, give me everything now. That’s all he said. And I said don’t shoot, I will give you what you want, its okay. And I took out the money and I gave it o him; whatever I had. And he pointed the gun towards me and he said give me all and I said this is all. I don’t have anymore, please don’t shoot and he walked out.”

But before he walked out, he also made an employee of Atlantic Bank a victim of the attack when he grabbed her bag and stole her cellular phone before fleeing the scene. The robbery not only stunned victims but also nearby salespeople, such as Nicole Lovell and Aniffiea Davis.

Nicole Lovell, Nearby Salesperson
“All I see dah di police dehn pull up next door and I mi di wonder weh happen cause I was in here doing my own thing, getting ready fi change our shift. Then I si di police den I gone look ova deh den I hear di other people dehn di talk bout how next door get robbed. And I seh what and I deh right yah so, not even di conscious dat.”

Marion Ali
“You neva si di bwai dehn when dehn ride pass?”

Nicole Lovell
“I have no idea. I neva si nobody cause I was in here. Notice how in here deh way to di back and out deh deh way to di front so I noh notice nothing at all weh was happening.”

Marion Ali
“This happen right next door to where you work.”

Nicole Lovell
“Right next door to weh I work, yes ma’am.”

Marion Ali
“You scared?”

Nicole Lovell
“Yeah, you could say so because what if dehn neva pass me and dehn mi come right yah come hold up me wid gun. I noh know weh mi wah happen and I deh right next door. Dat frighten me a little bit.”

Aniffiea Davis, Nearby Salesperson
“Ih mi deh near to our store so ih kinda scary for us because business bad and people di rob people ah job. So people really di get desperate now and di rob bout near. So di store dehn have to be more careful right now.”

Marion Ali
“you neva si dehn guys?”

Aniffiea Davis
“No I neva si. I just si when di lotta police dehn come. Ih gone like this quick, like a minute or a second. Di people dehn just gone in and come out.”

Marion Ali
“Ih happen right cross di street from weh pah you work.”

Aniffiea Davis
“Yes, right cross di street so ih scary.”

So scary an occurrence it was that even Jex who is a veteran security officer is now second-guessing his career.

Voice of Elton Jex
“When the guy point the gun to me and have it at my neck, when he placed it at my neck I had already decided dat either or either because you know many a times when they do robberies they get the money and they still end up shoot the person. So for a moment I though that I was gonna get shot and I was gonna get killed. So just was frightened and everything and I just tried to follow instructions and I didn’t try to do anything. I’m thinking about resigning. I’m story to say it. I had just resigned from this job in February and I came back in May. But I don’t know if I will continue to do this type of job, despite the fact that I have been doing it for so long. This is the first time for me and I am still shocked up to now.”

Up to news time police had no suspects and were still interviewing a few people. Marion Ali for News Five.

The men escaped with several thousand dollars and cops are now reviewing tapes from neighbouring businesses to see if they can identify the robbers entering or fleeing the scene.

Doony’s store recently suffered a great loss with the passing of its former proprietor, Sunil Sadarangani, in a tragic traffic mishap on July third.