Competitors in the security industry rallied around Beryllium Limited on Monday after gunmen staged a brutal attack on one of the company’s teams leaving one member dead, two injured and escaping with at least $10 million.

The deadly heist was staged as the Beryllium security personnel were delivering cash to JN Bank at Portmore Pines Plaza in St Catherine just after 9:00 am.

Police report that the masked criminals, who were travelling in a white Subaru motor car, were armed with high-powered weapons.

“I think they never had much chance. They had no chance. They [criminals] escaped with two bags. We estimate that it’s over $10 million that they managed to escape with,” Senior Superintendent of Police Christopher Phillips, who is in charge of the St Catherine South Police Division, told journalists.

The police, he said, are sure that two men came “forward” in the attack, but suspect that there were six criminals in total.

“We are taking it very seriously. It is a very daring attack. The full team is here. My senior investigators are here; we are getting assistance from external investigators,” Phillips said.

The police, he added, believe the attack was an “organised activity” as similar robberies have been occurring across the island in recent time.

Reacting to the incident, KingAlarm Managing Director John Azar described it as an attack on all security companies in Jamaica.

“It’s obviously very tragic. Thoughts and prayers go out for the families of the security personnel involved. It is an attack on the entire industry. I think it is a stark reminder of the challenges that persons in the security industry face and, clearly, the risks that the persons in the industry go through day in and day out in an effort to serve and protect our clients,” Azar told the Jamaica Observer.

“From our perspective at KingAlarm, we obviously stand as one with others in the industry in terms of expressing our shock and regret at what has transpired.”

Jason McKay, CEO of McKay Security, agreed, describing the ordeal as brutal.

“This is a blow to the company, the families of the guards, and the colleagues and co-workers of the guards at Beryllium. This is really a terrible tragedy to have occurred,” he told the Observer.

McKay said oftentimes there is misplaced worry about preserving the rights of criminals.

“This incident is a terrible way to get a very clear view of how little they [criminals] worry about your safety and your life. They are brutal, inhuman characters. So many other people could have been shot with that amount of gunfire that occurred. It’s a total lack of empathy for the human beings they are killing as well as other members of the public who were standing nearby,” he said.

Phillips suggested that security companies review their operations, especially when making large financial deliveries. Moreover, he noted that the Beryllium team was not travelling in an armoured vehicle.

“My initial assessment of it is that I would make a serious call to the companies that are doing courier services to review their operations, review their tactical manoeuvres, review their numbers in terms of these kinds of transactions, and look on the type of vehicle they’re using. There are obvious gaps and there needs to be some tightening,” he said.

Phillips said criminals are trying their best to escape by any means possible, and “it simply means that we have to ensure that our tactical approach and tactical discipline are maintained. We [police] are well-trained and know how to manoeuvre in these situations. As to private companies, it’s something they have to assess and determine what are the gaps in terms of their training and tactical operation.”

A security officer who requested anonymity sided with Phillips and pointed to the terrors of doing routine transactions.

“It will make us more exposed to being a victim. If a man knows that you go to 15 John Road every Wednesday morning at 10:30 with money, what do you think will eventually happen?” he argued.

“If every single time a team turns up at the same time, at the same location, park the vehicle in the same space, it makes it easier for somebody to plan an ambush.”

Meanwhile, Phillips said the staff at JN is “obviously traumatised” by the experience.

“I had the opportunity to talk with them earlier, and to more or less encourage them and to capitalise on the opportunities that this incident presents,” he said.

At the same time, JN said counselling is being provided to its employees and members who were at the bank when the gunmen staged the attack.

“No JN Bank employee was physically harmed during the incident, which occurred about 9:03 am,” the company said.

“The branch has been closed and members of the public who usually do business at the location have been advised to conduct their transactions at other JN Bank locations in Spanish Town, Linstead, and Old Harbour, or at Sovereign on the Boulevard on Washington Boulevard in St Andrew.

“Persons may also conduct their transactions online via JN Bank LIVE or at the nearest JN Bank ATM,” the bank said, adding that it was saddened by the “brazen attack, which resulted in the injury of the security personnel”.

On Monday evening, Beryllium issued a statement advising that it is cooperating with the police investigation.

“Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with the crew and their family at this time. This is a very sad time for Beryllium Limited and the Guardsman Group of Companies,” the company said.