I can't take all this too much longer says 71-year-old robbery victim
THE elderly victim of a machete-wielding robber said yesterday that the latest in a string of raids on his store had left him considering whether to shut up shop.
William Pearman, owner of Belvin's Grocery on Middle Road, Devonshire, suffered a cut finger and bruises after two men wearing ski masks had come into his store on Wednesday evening and demanded money.
The pair escaped with $200 handed over by 71-year-old Mr. Pearman, after one of the robbers had swung at him with the machete.
"I've been robbed so many many times that I've lost count," said Mr. Pearman yesterday. "The last time was about Easter this year. I can't take all this too much longer."
Mr. Pearman said he had run Belvin's Grocery for about 40 years and admitted the persistent robberies had made him consider packing up the enterprise.
"It happened at about five to eight," said Mr. Pearman, who added that there had been no one else in the store at the time.
"I had a bag of sugar in my hand at the time and he cut through the bag with the machete and also cut my hand.
"Then he said, 'I'll kill you' and all that business and they beat me across the back. They demanded money. I took out about $200 and gave it to them.
"I tried to pick up anything that might lead to a positive ID. They had on ski masks. All I could tell was that they were black guys."
Asked what he felt about the assailants, Mr. Pearman said: "As a Christian, I have to forgive them."
Mr. Pearman was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital on Wednesday night and treated for a cut index finger to the right hand.
"They said I had a few bruised muscles but no broken bones," he added.
Mr. Pearman was back behind the counter of Belvin's yesterday afternoon.
Bermuda Police describe the culprits as two dark-skinned males who were wearing white ski masks and said yesterday that active inquiries were under way.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed anything, or anyone with information about the crime to contact Central CID on 295-0011 or the confidential Crimestoppers hotline on 1-800-623-8477.
