A 63-year-old man is recovering after being stabbed in the shoulder during a brazen midday robbery on Armstrong Road, in which two young men snatched a gold chain from around his neck and fled before police could intercept them.
The incident occurred during the early afternoon hours after the victim and his wife had been selling rice pudding in the CMC area. The man had stopped at a superette on No. 2 Armstrong Road, parking in front of the business while his wife went inside to make a purchase.
Two young men approached the vehicle from a northerly direction. One of them allegedly grabbed the gold chain from around the victim's neck and, during the struggle that followed, the man sustained a stab wound to his right shoulder — inflicted with what appeared to be a pair of scissors.
The two suspects fled east in the direction of Kentish Road and escaped. Investigations are continuing.
The victim was transported to the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre for treatment of the stab wound. His condition is not believed to be life-threatening.
The attack is the latest in a deeply alarming wave of chain-snatching incidents across Antigua and Barbuda, several of which have now escalated beyond theft into outright violence. Commissioner of Police Everton Jeffers confirmed earlier this week that Operation Iron Grip has already resulted in the arrest of several individuals linked to the recent spate of chain-snatching cases — but Thursday's attack on a 63-year-old man sitting in his parked vehicle in broad daylight makes clear that the threat has not yet been contained.
The willingness of the perpetrators to use a weapon against an elderly victim in order to prevent him from resisting the theft of his chain marks a disturbing escalation. The public is strongly cautioned to be vigilant when wearing valuable jewellery in public and to avoid resistance if confronted by thieves, prioritising personal safety above the recovery of property.
Anyone with information about the Armstrong Road attack or the identities of the two suspects is urged to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913 or 462-3914, or call Crimestoppers anonymously at 800-TIPS (8477).
