ST. CROIX — Kmart West on St. Croix was robbed of an untold amount of cash in the wee hours of Saturday morning, hours following the Black Friday rush — traditionally one of the most profitable days in the year for retail outlets like Kmart.
According to Glen Dratte, the V.I.P.D.’s public information officer, on Saturday at approximately 4:50 a.m., a call was placed to the 911 emergency call center regarding a robbery at the store, located in the Sunshine Mall in Frederiksted.
Upon arrival to the scene, officers interviewed multiple individuals, who said that two unknown suspects wearing ski masks entered Kmart from the store’s rear, while employees were taking out trash.
The suspects then got a hold of the store manager (the V.I.P.D. release did not explain how or at what point during the robbery this happened), forced the store manager to lead them to a safe-deposit box in which money was being held, and took an untold sum of cash, Mr. Dratte said.
According to Mr. Dratte, the suspects then forced the store manager along with a contract employee to escort them back to the rear of the Sunshine Mall where a vehicle was waiting. They then got into the vehicle (police did not give a description), and fled the scene, Mr. Dratte said.
Mr. Dratte said the incident was under active investigation as of Monday. The V.I.P.D. is asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the two individuals involved to contact the force at 340-778-2211, or Crime Stoppers USVI with an anonymous tip here.
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