Politician’s business, Western Union robbed of more than $1M
ST ANN, Jamaica — A Western Union outlet and a shipping company owned by former government minister Othneil Lawrence, were broken into and robbed in St Ann in the wee hours of Friday morning.
Information reaching OBSERVER ONLINE is that more than $1.5 million was stolen from the Western Union, and at least $20,000 taken from the former Member of Parliament’s business.
It is understood that the businesses are located in a store in Coombs Plaza on Main Street in Moneague.
Police investigators have so far discovered that the robbery was carried out by six men, all masked and wearing gloves.
Sources close to the investigations have revealed that the men gained access to the store after they cut open the grille gate at the entrance and then broke a glass door.
The culprits reportedly cut open the steel door to the vault in the Western Union outlet and stole cash amounting to $1.6 million before taking the $20,000 from the shipping company.
During the incident, the store’s alarm system was triggered. A security firm was notified and the police called.
Subsequent investigations revealed that wires to the camera systems at the store were cut.
In March 2010, a business operated by Lawrence in Moneague was robbed of more than $1 million and several cellular phones. That business at the time housed a Western Union and a Digicel store. It was not ascertained if this was the same location that was broken into on Friday.
