Wednesday was not a good day for three passengers off the mega-ship Grand Princess who were confronted by armed robbers after visiting the St. Thomas Synagogue shortly before noon.
Police spokeswoman Sgt. Annette Raimer said at the scene, "The passenger, who was accompanied by her husband and a female companion, were in the area of Walter's Living Room when two young suspects approached them halfway down the hill."
She said one suspect grabbed a gold Omega chain from the 75-year-old woman, who pursued him.
Raimer said the woman, whose belongings were taken, suffered minor injuries to her knees and elbow when she tussled with one of the armed bandits.
"There was a struggle with the suspect in which he threw her to the ground and fired two shots in the area of the two other victims," Raimer said. The suspects made off with the victim's identification, credit cards, Florida driver's license and approximately $210.
A search continued Wednesday afternoon for the suspects, one of whom was armed with a semi-automatic .38-caliber handgun.
The initial search involved several law enforcement agencies that according to Raimer had personnel in the area.
"The police were very active in this," Raimer said. "We got assistance from Virgin Islands Housing Police officers and marshals of the Territorial Court, and a good chance exists that we will apprehend these suspects."
Raimer and Deputy Chief Theodore Carty urged anyone with information on Wednesday's armed robbery to call investigators at 774-4050, the emergency number 911 or the confidential crime line at 777-8711.
