TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Jewel Store in lobby of Simpson Bay Resort robbed

Car crashed in and robbed store , terrible sad 😢🙏

Wow!! That jewelry store is well inside the lobby and you would have to drive through the front doors past the front desk to get there. Unreal!!

First, let's pray no one was hurt!!!Second, hope the camera's got it all on tape!!! So, if they crashed the car, they got away on foot OR they had a back up car waiting, because the first car was stolen!!!Let's hope they are caught and justice is carried out!! The Dutch government needs to make an example out of these brazen pricks!!

which resort was it?

Wow, very scary!!

mgh--it's in the title of the post.

What time of day did this happen?

Around 5.00pm

That would be Splash Jewelry store that is totally inclosed. Wow!!!

I have no clue how they could drive a car into that establishment. There is no direct path to gain any speed

Yup


SBR Robbery

Here is the security camera video. There is also an article on Jeff Berger’s web page that state that an employee was hit with a crowbar.

https://fb.watch/ALDJfu_bNk/?fs=e

Impressive video and explians the car use

Quite the balls on these guys..hope they catch the f##kers and that the guy hit in the head is ok. My God!!

Wow, wow, wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So scary...

Wow.

Armed and using a crowbar to strike the owner is pretty violent. Hope they catch them and use that crowbar on them.

This is really scary. We go there each year and always felt safe there but this sure makes you think twice about your safety.

Very brazen.

Take it for what it may or may not be worth but St Maarten News (whatever they are) is reporting on Facebook that the robbery depicted in the video did NOT occur on SXM.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1287277403408025&set=a.334796961989412

Bizarre.

Good thing no jewelry stores in the places i stay

Watching various videos, there is one guy in pink shirt who just stands and watches with crossed arms. Someone points a gun near me and i am road runner.

Looks like the security guards were the first ones out the back door……

After watching the video, it shouldn't be to hard to find this car!! Front and rear bumper covers damaged pretty badly!!! I could not believe the people just standing around like it was a show, ordering up some popcorn!!!???? Not taking cover??? SMH!!!

Yeah, that guy standing there makes no sense. Anyone recognize him?

At first when I heard of this robbery I thought why would somebody commit a crime in Pelican Key. There is only one way in and one way out on Billy Folly Road and the police could wait at Welfare Rd for the criminals to exit. Then I watched the video and the thieves were inside SBR for just over 2 minutes at 5pm. Which would be the same time that the Simpson Bay bridge would be up for inbound traffic. That would eliminate any police west of the bridge to respond. They knew when to strike!!

@WhaleTail - I thought along the same lines. Tactically, egress would limit you to only one route. But if the bridge is up, then no vehicle from the station on the far side could respond. The nearest station on the east side is too far away to respond in time. If they planned the robbery that much, then they would have planned for a clean escape vehicle - be it a car or a moped. I used to be involved on the LE side of those tactics and am surprised at the level of sophistication shown. Was this a special jewelry store with more than average product on display?

If theyb actually watched the video (and the posted door damage) it was obvious that the robbery took place at SBR and the jewelry store was obviously the one robbed

not sure that it would've helped any but it was disturbing that the "crack security" were the first to bolt! Maybe they'll be some security job openings?

Until they allow security guards to be armed, they will continue to bolt. Doesn't work well when the criminals have guns and security doesn't.

CaribLee--agreed.

Will never be allowed for Security to have guns on St.Maarten and Dutch Caribbean , different protocols and safety measures and reasons 😉🙏👍

No sh*t. I'd bolt too.

Kiddy up!

As most, I was shocked by the news. And, if you look in the largest SBR "Owners" group on Facebook the number of comments are in the 100s. Its all equal parts support, shock, fear and anger, and far too many people providing "keyboard" advice and opinions. Its troubling and a distraction.

We have been members at SBR 25 years. With each visit SBR improves and we cherish the island and the memories. My only thoughts are this.... This is an evil and unfortunate incident, and I really feel compassion for the victims, community, employees and visitors.

We are in initial planning stages for our next visit and this in no way will deter us from returning.

PS I always love this forum. I contribute little but follow regularly. Its my go-to reference for what to know and I appreciate the more-or-less ;-) level headed discussions.

Whichever way you slice it a violent daylight robbery with the use of a car driven through the lobby doors of a popular and busy hotel without police being able to apprehend or even chase the thugs is an appallingly bad piece of publicity for St Maarten.
The fact these people can even think about carrying out such a raid indicates how ineffective they believe the police response will be.
Has there been any government response at a senior level to assure tourists and locals alike that something is being done ? I can't find anything online. Perhaps they hope the story will just go away.
I hope St Maarten doesn't become like some other Caribbean islands where violent robberies and drug-related incidents spawn endless All-Inclusive resorts and visitors venturing no further than the hotel buffet and beach.