Gunmen relieve Better Brands salesman of cash

Manager of Better Brands Distributors Fitzroy Samuel is deeply concerned about the mounting crime situation in this country.{{more}}

And, with the recent gunpoint robbery of one of his sales trucks, he fears for the safety of his drivers.

At about 3:20 p.m. on May 13, while sales truck TR 99 was being driven in the Evesham area, two armed masked men approached the driver and demanded that money be handed over to them.

In a release from the company, Samuel said that the driver, who did not want to be identified, handed over approximately $2,000 to the men. Samuel said that one of the men was armed with a shotgun, while the other had a smaller gun. He said that one of the men demanded that the other to shoot the driver. Luckily, the driver was spared and the men fled into some nearby bushes.

The matter was reported to the Mesopotamia Police Station and investigations are still ongoing.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, Samuel said he is thankful that his driver’s life was spared. “This is something of great concern for us, our drivers are like sitting ducks when these things happen,” Samuel said.

Samuel said that they have been robbed in the past of money and items but it is the first time a gun has been involved. He said that they are seriously considering placing vaults in the trucks so that the same thing will not happen again. However, Samuel said that in itself might

put the driver at greater risk, as if the robbers don’t get to the vault, they may shoot the driver. He said they are also considering the option of getting a certified shotgun rider to protect the driver.

Meanwhile, Samuel said that they are re-mapping the routes in which the trucks travel daily. “We have to send home the message that we are concerned as a private sector about the number of crimes being committed here especially with the use of guns,” stated Samuel. (KW)