CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man was held up in a popular condo row-area restaurant in broad daylight and then assaulted because he didn’t have any money to give the would-be robber on Sunday afternoon, authorities said.
It is the second broad daylight armed robbery to take place at Breezez Restaurant near Club St. Croix in the last two months. In the latest incident, a “sharp instrument” was used as the weapon by the suspect rather than a gun.
The 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched officers to the Breezes Restaurant to investigate a robbery incident that left a male victim injured at 2:49 p.m. Sunday, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Officers traveled to the area and contacted a witness who stated that she and her husband were at the restaurant’s parking lot sitting in their vehicle, according to the VIPD.
“The male victim exited the vehicle to investigate a noise they heard when a black male individual wearing a mask and a camouflaged shirt demanded money from them,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “The male victim told the suspect that he did not have money, and the suspect assaulted the victim with a sharp instrument about the face. “
The suspect left the area dark green Jeep vehicle. The victim was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital & Medical Center where he received treatment for multiple lacerations about his face and head. He was listed in stable condition.
A St. Croix woman was robbed at gunpoint in broad daylight while waiting for her take-out food in the parking lot of Breezez Restaurant in April.
This incident is under investigation. Police are urging anyone with information to call 911, the Crime TipLine at (340) 778-4950, or Crime Stoppers USVI at (800) 222-TIPS.