WILLEMSTAD – Five unidentified masked individuals carried out a burglary at the Penha store in Punda in the early hours of Thursday morning, making off with approximately $25,000 worth of perfumes in a matter of minutes.
The break-in occurred around 3:43 a.m., when the suspects forced open the steel security shutter and used a crowbar to smash the glass entrance door to gain access to the store. According to Penha, the total damage exceeds the value of the stolen goods due to the destruction caused to the building.
Security footage from the store shows how the group operated during the burglary. Additional camera images from nearby businesses captured the suspects fleeing the scene, at one point splitting up as they attempted to escape. During the getaway, one of the suspects dropped a bag, which was later retrieved by two others.
Penha has expressed satisfaction with the swift response from the Curaçao Police Force. The investigation is currently being led by detectives, while the forensic unit is conducting trace evidence analysis at the scene. The digital investigation team is also collecting and reviewing camera footage, including material requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities are making use of surveillance footage from surrounding businesses and the MCB Bank located at Plasa Jojo Correa, as well as the city’s broader camera monitoring system. So far, the suspects have not been identified, largely because they were wearing face coverings.
Despite the incident, the Penha store has since reopened and resumed normal business hours.
