Gang of 5 Targets Tourists and Locals in Grand-Baie Robberies

A violent gang of five repeat offenders has been arrested following a spate of armed robberies in Grand-Baie, including attacks on a 58-year-old French tourist from Réunion and a 62-year-old domestic worker.

The criminals, who used a rented black Suzuki Swift to carry out their crimes, were tracked down by the Divisional Crime Intelligence Unit (DCIU) North after CCTV footage from Safe City helped trace their movements.

A Mother Left Injured

The first victim, a Goodlands resident and mother of two, was waiting for a bus after work when the gang struck. Sitting by the roadside, she had just received her monthly salary of Rs 12,000 when the Suzuki Swift pulled up.

A man approached her, asking for directions before suddenly grabbing at her handbag. When she resisted, she was pushed to the ground, fracturing her wrist on the rocks.

“They broke my mother’s hand. She’s still in shock,” her son told reporters. “She’s terrified to go back to work now—what if they come for her again?”

The thieves made off with her phone, ID, umbrella, and her hard-earned wages.

Tourist Fights Back

Just an hour earlier, the same gang had targeted a 58-year-old Réunionese tourist on Grand-Baie’s main road. When one assailant grabbed her bag, she fought back fiercely. Her friend tried to intervene, but two more men jumped out of the car and shoved him aside.

In the struggle, one thief slashed the bag’s strap with a blade, stealing it before speeding off. The tourist was thrown to the ground, suffering a deep cut to her forehead that required seven stitches.

Despite the ordeal, she praised the Mauritian police, saying: “The response here was much faster than in Réunion.”

Police Sting Operation

Undercover DCIU officers tracked the Suzuki Swift to Baie-du-Tombeau, where it was intercepted near Macadam and Oursin streets. Inside, police found:

• Stolen IDs, bank cards, and mobile phones
• Rs 12,075 in cash
• Two sharp weapons
• Tape used to alter the rental car’s number plate

The suspects—Jérôme Stephan Bryan Lochoo (30), Jean Warren Laval Leroy (30), Denis Anncyver Henriette (39), Islam Panchoo, and Marie Désirée Valérie Bordelais (37)—now face provisional charges of armed robbery.

Repeat Offenders Strike Again

Investigators confirmed the group had rented the car since July 10, suggesting a possible string of unreported crimes. With all five suspects having prior convictions, locals are demanding tougher sentencing for repeat offenders.

As the victims recover, questions remain over tourist safety in one of Mauritius’ busiest holiday spots. Police have assured increased patrols—but for many, the damage is already done.

Source: Defi Media