The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force has made breakthroughs in several burglaries with four arrests in break-ins around Tortola in past two weeks.
Detectives charged both Thurman Smith, 43, of Old Plantation and Eric Casey, 30, Scatliffe Alley with the burglary and theft of two generators, one Stihl blower, two vacuums and a power wash which were recovered.
KieAndre Williams, 18, of Paraquita Bay was charged with two burglaries; one of a business in Paraquita Bay and the other Bamboushay Restaurant. Marvin Gumbs, 44, of no fixed place of abode, was charged with entering a private home in Lower Estate and for later assaulting a man in a parking lot. He was placed on remand for his later appearance at the Magistrate’s Court.
Police previously reported an uptick in thefts of generators, water pumps and tools left around private properties and road sides unattended with one resident of Hodge’s Creek reporting generators stolen from her property.
Head of the Criminal Investigations Department Chief Inspector Paula Alleyne noted the importance that cameras played in identifying the perpetrators and is encouraging business owners to ensure that these security devices are in place and functional.
“Our detectives have greater success at identifying the individuals responsible if cameras capture activity in and around premises particularly at night. It can be an invaluable tool in our fight to keep crime at a minimal,” she said.
Persons are asked to ensure that valuable items stored outside homes and sheds are secured when not in use. Opportunistic thieves look for items such as generators and tools which can easily be stolen from premises.