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Police need info in catching burglars – Morris

Morris showing business owners the graph of burglaries committed over the past two years. Photo: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) are catching between two and three times more offenders now than they did in 2010, but need information from the public so that more burglars can be caught.

This was revealed by Commissioner of Police (ag) David Morris during an anti-crime meeting on May 1, 2012.

In comparing the crime figures for the last two years, the acting COP stated that in 2010 there were 224 reported burglaries on businesses and churches, while in 2011 that figure rose by one to 225.

Meanwhile, burglaries carried out on homes rose from 181 in 2010 to 240 in 2011.
“We are detecting more crimes, but reported crimes in burglaries particularly are going up...that because people are buying more Ipads and electronic equipment, jewellery and having money in the houses,” Morris told business owners.

He also stated that Police have figured out that the perpetrators swap between robbing businesses and residences. “They are what we call opportunistic burglars.”

However, he is appealing to the public to come forward with information because they know who the culprits are. “You know who they are, it’s a small Territory.”

He added, “Because we don’t have the resources we follow the trend, which is during the festivals when people need money to buy clothes etc.”

13 Responses to “Police need info in catching burglars – Morris”

  • rat trap (07/05/2012, 09:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    morris again you mean he will not give his Duputy no air time??? I guess Morris has something to prove...
  • Again (07/05/2012, 09:57) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes, again. If the Territory is small and we should know the perpetrators, why should Morris and his police not know them also. Here he goes again. Where is his deputy?? Keep quiet Morris and find them.
    • @ Again (07/05/2012, 12:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Are you really that naive? Despite the police "knowing" who many of the perpetrators are they cannot lay any charges because they haven't any evidence! They need people to speak up and provide witness statements or information to allow the police to catch the theifs in the act or in posession of the goods. The policing systems all around the world rely on the community to help them out yet the people of the BVI seem to think the police can solve these crimes without any evidence, statements, tips etc. Think on it, even Al Capone was never faced criminal charges for the acts done as a mobster but was finally caught on tax evasion. The only way the police are going to be able to catch these little theifs who are violating our privacy is for them to slip up and for the police to be in the right place or the right time or for the police to be called in when some homeowner fires a gun between the eyes of the person robbing them! As a victim of theft, I am asking people to please stop protecting your family or friends that are doing these crimes. It is destroying our communities and sooner or later someone is going to get hurt. Turn them in anomously if you must, but recognize you are not doing them any favors by allowing them to continue with their wilful acts. Criminal nature only escalates if not stopped. You may believe these are petty thefts and no harm is being done. You may be benefitting from the act by purchasing stolen goods. But when you get the call that your 18 year old son has been shot while conducting a burglary you'll only have yourself to blame.
      • goat water (07/05/2012, 15:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        me ain give up no body for the police dem to give out me name then somebody jump me...no way boss
        • Silence is Approval (07/05/2012, 16:49) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Things will go from bad to worse as crime will escalate if we all too scared to speak out against criminals. If you let evil win it will but if everyone starts to take a zero tolerance attitude and stand up against crime then things will change
  • MAN LOOK (07/05/2012, 10:30) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    AYO DAMN WELL NO WHO D ROBBER DEM IS. YALL GET THE INFORMATION BUT DONT DO NOTHIN BECAUSE THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER IS THE FAMILY FRIEND OF D THIEF! YOU, MORRIS HEAR BOUT DAT CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND YOU DO NOTHING ABOUT IT! AND EVEN AFTA AYO FINALLY MANAGE TO GO NEXT DOOR OF THE POLICE STATION TO ARREST THEM, OUR SENIOR MAGISTRATE IN D HABIT OF SENDING DEM STR8 BACK ON TO D STREET BUH BOUND ONLY TO KEEP D PEACE.
  • Do it yourself (07/05/2012, 11:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Security cam, the do it yourself types aren't really that expenisive. It allows you to monitor your home from your computer or smart phone in real time.
  • tom (07/05/2012, 12:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    First step is to get a local commisioner of police
    • Two cents (07/05/2012, 14:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      No matter how good and efficient foreign police men are, people just cannot relate to them and so, they divulge no information. So, I agree that with a local commissioner, BVIslanders will be more responsive to reporting to the police. Look at it -how many BVIslanders go and speak to the Governor -not many but they will quicker speak to Orlando or Pickering etc because they feel freer. I think it is a bad move to have a foreigner as head of the police force. People just will not speak. Simple as that.
    • george w. toush (07/05/2012, 16:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      that will never happen just ask Premier Bush in the cayman islands he will tell you their plans
    • know your friends (07/05/2012, 20:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      yea I for stoutt..ha ha
  • g (07/05/2012, 17:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Deeds uk officers who down here on a vacation seems like they want we to do dem work for free no way jose
  • Jack johnson (08/05/2012, 11:58) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    While I agree that I would be ideal to have a BVIslander (born) as COP, the truth of the matter is that no such local is qualified to fill for the post at this time. To be a good COP you need to be well rounded. You need to understand the cope issues that policing now faces including having to do more with less resources. I hear Mr. Morris crying due to the lack of resources but I don't buy that. The UK are practicaling forcing police officers to retire because of the current economic climate yet he is asking government to expend financial resources to hire addiitional police officers which I understand the governments has already approved by way of giving the police additional financial resources in their budget.


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