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Nine women were talking or checking merchandise inside a store when they were suddenly surprised by several armed antisocials who entered the store on the corner of Olmedo and Rocafuerte streets, a commercial area of the city of Esmeraldas, on the afternoon of this Monday, March 14.
Some of them managed to sneak through a door to avoid being mugged. The alleged thieves broke the showcases, one of them injured his hand, while another dropped the component of a firearm.
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The incident occurred in a few minutes, at 5:00 p.m. yesterday, and was recorded by the establishment’s cameras. Meanwhile, outside, police officers and residents managed to capture three of the suspects.
One of them was attacked by a group of citizens outraged by the situation. Perfumes, clothing and other merchandise were found in the bags he was carrying.
Jaime Viteri, chief of the Esmeraldas police district, who was present during the investigative procedure, corroborated this information and the capture of the suspects.
“We had indications that the robbery was going to be committed and intelligence personnel were following in the footsteps of these assailants,” the officer said.
The other suspects fired shots as they fled, said a witness who was buying fast food and threw himself to the ground because of the shooting.
An extensive bloodstain was observed between the sidewalk, roadway and parterre of Olmedo Avenue, apparently from one of the criminals injured in their escape.
One of the criminals was wounded with a bullet wound to the leg and was admitted to the Las Palmas type C subcenter. The other detainees were taken to investigations for this crime in flagrante delicto, according to the police report.
Several ballistic signs were raised at the site. Even the windows of a municipal official’s vehicle that was parked were apparently broken by the shooting.
The robbery of this store happened near an office of the Prosecutor’s Office and diagonal to the Mayor’s Office, Esmeraldas Drivers’ Union and two blocks where they left a human head, three weeks ago.
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After 6:00 p.m. yesterday, a woman was held inside a store on Olmedo and Manuela Cañizares streets, for the alleged crime of theft of merchandise.
Commander Viteri urged justice operators to punish those who are detained by the Police in flagrante delicto and with evidence. Meanwhile, residents and merchants of Olmedo Avenue, between Juan Montalvo and Salinas Street, installed a community alarm system and video cameras, in case of any emergency situation. (I)
Source: Eluniverso
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
