news graphic of robbersCaribana Thursday festivities didn’t end too well for a number of people gathered outside popular Chinese Food joints Watoos and Hung Shing at Dundas & Spadina early this morning.  After exiting the restaurants (not far from 52 Divison), the congregation of party goers (some of which included popular promoters) gathered outside and were robbed at gunpoint.

According to one witness, “Di robbers dem just rolled up in a car with about five people in it”.  These thugs casually made their way into the unsuspecting crowd of party goers before tactically approaching each person revealing their concealed weapon(s), then silently and quickly robbing them!

Even though this robbery took place in the early morning hours when it is still dark out, many in Toronto have been happening in broad daylight.  According to another witness who asked not to be identified, “Di man dem tek anything…contents from your pocket, wallet, keys, money, cell phone, purse, credit cards…some will even order you to your car so they can rob the car too!  It was all over in a matter of two to three minutes, dem dere, den dem gone!”.

Now, word on the street is…there’s a new ‘robbery at gunpoint’ scam targeting promoters and/or their ticket delivery staff.  This latest  technique involves nightclub patrons (usually females) ordering ticket delivery services for popular events from promoters that are willing to drive anywhere to get advance cash ticket sales, except, when the promoter arrives at an agreed ‘public location’ to exchange ticket(s) for cash, he/she is met by gunmen who proceed to rob all of the money the promoter is carrying as well as the unsold tickets that he/she is carrying which could easily run into the thousands.  Many of these crimes go unreported for a variety of reasons and it may only be a matter of time before somebody is seriously harmed or injured

Going back to yesteryear, ‘robbing’ became trending in Toronto.  People that attended dances were getting robbed on the dance floors during popular events not just outside after the dance.  This trend caused immense fear amongst the dancehall community and it resulted in an economic downturn for a once thriving Toronto dance and concert marketplace.  These robberies soon came to a halt – several robbers got killed and those that did not, well, they ended up behind bars on other charges.  The concern now is, some of those ‘robbers’ have done their time and have been released from jail, free to roam – back to terrorize the Toronto Dance Scene once again.  Yeah, dem dawgs, deh hungry!!!  No money nah run starr and dem have blood inna dem eye!!!  Please be careful when you go out partying this Caribana weekend!

Anyone with information on the aforementioned robbery or any other incidents involving gun crime are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 (TIPS) or toll free at 1-800-222-TIPS.

DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE? “They are criminals, yes, but, they also have “mouths to feed” – di baby mom dem a pressure dem and with little or no education, no job and no value for life, these so-called small time gangsters and thugs appear justified in using guns to get their food!”

QUESTION: What would you do if a lone gunman or gunmen approached you with a concealed weapon(s) and demanded your goods?