Is the spate of theft/burglaries in VI committed by non-nationals?
Wheatley, who was speaking on the radio programme “The Hot Seat” on Tuesday January 10, 2012, was referring to the incidences of crime over the Christmas season as reported by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).
According to him, he was very disappointed to hear that there were a lot of robberies and thefts over the holidays and that it was not part of the tradition of the Virgin Islands.
Wheatley also raised the question of whether it was Virgin islanders committing the crimes or outsiders and spoke of a situation in St. Marteen where crime was on the rise and the authorities later found out that it was due to other persons visiting the islands to commit the dastardly acts.
“This is not the BVI that we grew up knowing. If it is our own people that are doing it I say stop it and if it is those who have come in among us who are doing it I say stop it and if this is the way you wish to live then we think that you should vacate the BVI and go back to your homeland…but that kind of activity doesn’t do any of us, you or I, native or non-native, any good and so we need to do something about that.”
Earlier in the week, the RVIPF reported that four boats moored at the Hodge Creek Marina and one moored at Frenchman’s Cay were reportedly burgalised within the past week, all while the occupants were asleep on-board.
The victims had all retired to bed with the doors and hatches to their boats closed but unlocked and discovered the next morning that their electronic items and money were missing. In at least two of the cases, the culprits were seen on board or leaving the boat but could only be described as wearing black clothing. At least one of the culprits was described as bulky built weighing about 250 pounds, a press release from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) stated.
During the same week, it also reported, several vehicles were entered all with heavy losses to victims including kindles, laptops, iPods and iPads and in one case, $500 in cash stolen while it was parked at a residence overnight. Three of the vehicles were left unsecured; two were broken into and one was locked but carried a soft top.
With a reduction in residential and business burglaries within the past weeks, Police believe the same burglars are now targeting the marinas and are therefore advising the proprietors of these establishments to provide the needed advice to clients on securing their vessels and on personal property protection and to provide appropriate security in and around marinas.
Police believe large qualities of electronic items are being stored and/or transported off island and therefore are asking for any information that can assist in locating the property or identifying the perpetrators involved. Persons can call the confidential Crimestoppers hotline number at 800-TIPS (8477) or any officer within the RVIPF.
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