Basseterre, St. Kitts - A man caught stealing two bottles of rum from a Chinese supermarket was described by many onlookers as the next 100 metres world champion, judging from the speed he generated while running away from the scene when the establishment’s owner fired a warning shot in the air.
SKNVibes received a report that a robbery had taken place at the King’s Pavilion Supermarket on Sprott Street, Basseterre at about 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. However, on arrival, this media house learnt that it was not a robbery but a shoplifting incident.
According to the owner, Kevin Zhang, a man whom he described as very thick and big had entered the supermarket with a female and was seen putting two bottles of rum inside the front of his pants. The two bottles of Beehive Rum were valued at EC$45.
“I was standing by the door and he passed me going in with a female. I saw when he took up the two bottles and push them in his pants. So I told him that I saw him and to take them out, but he ignored me and kept walking in the direction of the door,” said Zhang.
The supermarket’s owner went on to say that he followed the man to the door and instructed him once again to take out the two bottles of rum but he did not comply. The owner further said that he drew his licenced firearm and fired a shot in the air, which immediately prompted the shoplifter to take the bottles out of his pants and put them on the floor.
“After putting the bottles on the floor he took off running at a very fast rate,” Zhang said..
Zhang said he was given a firearm licence since 2005 but he has recently gotten the handgun. He noted that immediately after the man ran away he had called the police, who showed up within five minutes, took a statement and viewed the security camera.
SKNVibes had observed members of the Criminal Investigation Department reviewing the tape of the security camera, which showed the man and a female entering the store and going to the liquor shelves where he placed the rum in his under garments.
Zhang indicated that police had questioned the female who was seen entering the shopping centre with the man but she claimed she neither knew him nor was she there with him.
The owner explained that that was not the first time individuals had stolen from his supermarket and noted that it was robbed on two occasions.
When contacted, Police Press and Public Relations Officer Inspector Vaughn Henderson told this media house that he was aware of the situation and investigations were ongoing.
