UPDATE: Bandits strike; grab truck batteries in burglary spree
A source disclosed that several trucks were parked near the seaside opposite the Delta gas station last Wednesday night, July 17, 2013 and truck drivers returned only to find their batteries missing.
The trucks were parked not far away from barges that were offshore.
Truck owner, Brian Blyden aka China Man, reportedly suffered a similar fate in Huntums Ghut last weekend when he realised that at least eight of his batteries were stolen from several trucks parked not too far from the Road Town Police station. Efforts to contact Blyden for comment proved unsuccessful.
According to a source, some of the thefts were reported to Police officers in hopes that something could be done to stem the tide of continued battery thefts.
Recently there has been a sequence of scrap metal and vehicle battery thefts across the island, suspected to be fueling an illicit scrap metal trade.
See previous story posted June 20, 2013:
Vandalism & theft to supply 'metals market' worrying- Residents
- frustration at alleged lack of police response to thefts of cable and other material
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Residents are expressing concern at what appears to be an upsurge in the theft of various metals such as copper and brass in the Virgin Islands community.
Reports indicate that cables have been ripped from walls and stolen from various properties while car batteries, gravestones and other elements are also being stolen or vandalised.
Items containing the desired metals are believed to be stolen for export to a foreign market and indications suggest that the thefts offer a lucrative trade to the persons involved.
One resident related that some two months ago some welding cable had been stolen from his property located in Sea Cows Bay where he runs a welding shop. He noted that a police report was made about the theft but no feedback had been received since.
One man, John Hodge Jr, was fined as much as $2500 after pleading guilty before the Magistrate’s Court to removing cable from the Festival Grounds in Road Town following the end of the Emancipation Festival last year. Hodge had told the court that he believed the items were for disposal and had promised compensation to the owners immediately after he was fingered for the alleged theft.
Meanwhile, Mr Bobby Smith said headstones were stolen from his parents’ graves at a cemetery located in Duffs Bottom. He indicated that the theft was recently discovered and reasoned that the theft was done for brass and copper metals that were contained in the headstones.
In his opinion, the persons responsible were exporting metals for recycling purposes. “A lot of thefts are going on with wires and different batteries and things like that,” Smith said. He could not estimate a cost for the replacement of the headstones and did not report the matter to the police as he felt this was a waste of time.
Another man, Mr Shaun King, pleaded guilty before the court to stealing as much as 500ft of #4 THHN electrical cable and 20ft of MCN cable from a property earlier this year. The cable was reportedly valued at over $1,300.
Another resident, Mr Ashley Ritter, said thieves were at his property in Pockwood Pond as recently as last week and stole a roll of cable. He could not estimate the total quantity that was stolen but explained that he was very upset about the frequency of the thefts.
Ritter said the persons responsible cut the cable into 20-feet lengths before making off with the items. “This thing is ridiculous,” Ritter stated, “this is about the third time now.” He said each time the thefts had occurred, a police report had been made but nothing had been done.
According to the resident, something needs to be done to “stop the stuff from going out”. He also said cable was stolen from a building that he had worked on which was located in Wickhams Cay II. “They cut out the twenty foot lengths and we had to cut out all of that cable that we ran already,” Ritter said.
He also felt that the government was not doing anything about the problem. “It’s ridiculous,” Ritter said, “it’s just [about] two people who are shipping the [metal] out of here.” Ritter noted that the thefts were taking place everywhere and stated that thieves struck wherever cable was located once they could burn the cable to take out the copper that was contained within.
When contacted, Police authorities confirmed there have been incidences of cable theft and that persons continue to be prosecuted for the offence.
It remains unclear what response, if any, has been made by government to address this seemingly rampant problem that appears to be on a continued rise in the absence of any concerted effort to address the issue.
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27 Responses to “UPDATE: Bandits strike; grab truck batteries in burglary spree”
This sounds like a Guishard run. He is G***ty!
WELLSA THESE PEOPLE LOVE TROUBLE WHAT THEY AINT PUT DOWN, CHECK SH@UN K*** HES ONE OF THOSE THEFT THAT STEAL WIRE FOR MONEY TO PAY FOR HIS CRACJ, THESE NEEDS TO TRY AND ASKED HIM. A WASTE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION TO SEE.