Bandits broke into a store on Jeremie Street, Castries sometime between Sunday evening and Monday morning and carted off with thousands of dollars worth of clothing, cash and other items.
Paulina (only name given), the owner of Paulina’s Variety Store, said residents in the area heard loud sounds coming from the store and decided to report it to the police on Sunday evening.
However, Paulina told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the police did not show up, even after she arrived at the store and discovered the place was ransacked, and reported it herself at around 4 a.m.
The businesswoman said the bandits gained entry from the back of her store and scanned through her cabinet cases before leaving with several pieces of clothing, cash and a flat screen television set.
Paulina said she has been operating her business for the past 15 years in Castries and despite there have been other break-ins in the same area, this is the first time that her store has been burglarised.
There was evidence of forced entry at the business place.
The bandits are believed to have compromised a grilled door before cutting the padlocks and breaking the hinges to a wooden door. They then forced their way in through another grilled door before entering the store.
The bandits also broke the cash register and carted off with an undisclosed sum of cash.
Paulina said she is devastated by the loss and suspects that three known individuals in the area might be responsible for the break-in. She said this was also reported to the police.
She expressed her displeasure with the ineffective response of the police in this matter.
Paulina said it would be difficult to acquire more financing to invest again.
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