Tourist seen gunmen enter the John Bull store on Bay Street Sunday morning with guns and a hammer. It is believed that nearly $1 million dollars of Gold Rolex watches encrusted with Diamonds were stolen, although BahamasLocal.com has not confirmed the exact description of the watches.

It all began around 10am on Sunday 22nd May 2011 when 2 tall men with high powered guns ran into the John Bull store on Bay Street. The smashed the glass counter with a hammer and helped themselves to approx 15 watches valued around $60,000 each (still to be confirmed).


A witness said.. " The robbers pulled into one of the parking spaces in front of the store. Then two tall guys came out and then had what looked like those Scream Move masks on, with black hoodies pulled over"

The witness continued to say.. "One of the guys ran back to the car for a bag, and after they got out, the man on the car reversed so it was on the street directly in front of the store. "

This all happened with five cruise ships present and the town busy with shoppers. Some say that tourists and shoppers ran in all directions when they knew what was happening.

After the robbery the men drove off in a silver Honda car 147566. According to Anthony Ferguson, RBPF Superintendent, nobody was harmed or hurt in the raid. He said..." It seems to be a crime of opportunity. There were Police officers on foot patrol who pursued the suspects. The men fled the store and got into a vehicle where another man was waiting as the driver".

The vehicle left the front of the store on Bay Street, turned up Parliament Street and was abandoned at Shirley Street / Parliament Street. No other details have been released.

A shop vendor near by said.."I thought it was a traffic jam and someone had gotten hit at first. We didn't realise it was a robbery until a tourist who had been inside ran out to us. He just collapsed and kept saying the same thing over and over about the robbery. "

Ministry of Tourism officials opted not to comment to reporters as police continue to investigate the John Bull robbery.

Superintendent Ferguson said... These are tragic incidents. Anytime you have an incident where persons are armed with weapons and moving into stores - naturally there will be those that are traumatised."

Diamonds International closed its security gate as a precaution and asked everyone in the store to lie on the floor. Ministry of Tourism employees ushered on curious visitors who gathered at the closed store and police tape.

Anyone with information have been asked to contact the police on 919 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS (328-8477)