A policeman assigned to the St. Elizabeth Police Division narrowly escaped with his life yesterday evening, following a robbery attempt at a supermarket on Main street in Santa Cruz.

According to preliminary reports, the off-duty cop and operators of the supermarket had just closed the doors to the establishment when they were confronted by armed men.

The men attempted to grab a bag with an undetermined sum of money.

During a scuffle, the policeman was hit in the mouth and then was shot by the robbers.

The supermarket operators and a number of bystanders were forced to take cover.

The gunmen escaped with the policeman's firearm, minus the cash.

The injured policeman was taken to hospital.

A police source revealed that there were reports that a civilian was shot and injured during the melee; however it's understood that no one has come forward with any such report.

It's understood that this is the second such robbery attempt at the supermarket in less than a year.

Recent crime statistics for January 1 to September 01, 2022, and the corresponding period in 2021 reveal a more than two hundred percent increase in reported robberies for St. Elizabeth.

The period under review highlighted 31 robberies compared to 13 last year.