Jul 25, 2009 0
New Kingston Security Alert
The following security awareness alert was sent to all employees of a corporation in the New Kingston area recently:
The continued downturn in the economic situation has resulted in an obvious rise in criminal activities, and many persons as well as organizations are being affected daily. According to the St. Andrew Central Police Division, crimes continue to occur within the Division at an alarming rate. Criminal activities are not confined to any particular area but affect all areas within the geographical region of Central St Andrew.
The commercial centre of New Kingston is greatly affected. The offences include; Shop & Office Break-in, Malicious Destruction of Property, Simple Larceny, Larceny from the Motor Vehicle and Robbery with Aggravation. Some of the reports as recorded by the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), Half-Way-Tree for the period stated above are as outlined below. Persons are to make note of these incidents and take the necessary safety precautions to minimize the likelihood of becoming a victim.
Shop & Office Break-in and Larceny
• New Kingston Wholesales, 33 Dumfries Road – Culprits forced open a rear door to the premises and stole a number of items.
• 16a Holborn Road – Culprits opened a side window and entered the building and stole a computer monitor.
Simple Larceny
• Knutsford Blvd & Grenada Way – Several females have been robbed of cellular phones while walking along the roadways; by men on bicycles.
• Knutsford Blvd – A female was walking along the main road when a man came up to her, grabbed her chain and then ran.
• 13 Haining Road - Complainant gave his cell phone to a friend to be charged when a “substance abuser” grabbed the phone and ran.
• Emancipation Park – A couple parked their car and went for a walk in the Park; on their return they discovered the rear left window smashed and properties missing – cash, phones & jewellery.
• Pure Plush Night Club – Complainant left her handbag on a stool beside her, minutes later she realized it was missing.
• Trafalgar Park - Complainants were sitting on a bench talking when a man rode up on a motorcycle and robbed them of their cell phones. During the process, the robber was holding his waist band as if he had a gun. He then rode off.
Simple Larceny and Malicious Destruction of Property
• Haughton Road – A man parked his 2000 Green Isuzu Big Horn motor car and went to transact business; on his return he discovered his rear pivot window smashed and property missing – Black Nikon Digital Camera.
• Haughton Road – Complainant parked his 1999 Suzuki motor car and went to visit a friend; on his return he discovered his rear pivot window smashed and property missing – Laptop computer.
• Along Park Blvd in the vicinity of the Emancipation Park – Complainant parked and securely locked up her 1995 white Nissan Sunny motor car and left to the Emancipation Park; on her return she discovered the rear left pivot window broken and properties missing – Handbag, Camera & Money.
• 1a Holborn Road – A female parked her motor car and went to work; on her return she discovered the back right window broken and item missing – Bag.
• Along Haining Road – A man parked his motor car and went to conduct business; on his return he discovered the car window broken and items missing.
• Island Life Car Park - Complainant parked her 2007 Grey Nissan Pick-up and went to a meeting; on her return, she found the vehicle rear window broken and property missing – Laptop computer.
• Quad Night Club – Complainant parked his white Caldina motor car and went to a game shop; on his return, he found items missing from the vehicle – bag with passport and $120,000.00 in cash.
• 2 Belmont Road – A man parked his motor car and went to conduct business; on his return, he found the car window broken and items missing – cash, car papers and national ID.
• Car Park at Rorrington Apartments - Complainant parked and securely locked up his 2002 Ford Explorer and retired to bed; the following morning he discovered damage to his rear windshield and items missing from his vehicle – black briefcase with passport and other documents.
• 6 Caribbean Ave – Complainant parked her 1993 Blue Suzuki motor car and went to conduct business; on her return, she found items missing from the vehicle – handbag, credit cards & cash.
Robbery with Aggravation
• Caribbean Close – A lone man on foot armed with a handgun held and robbed a lady of her handbag, phone and cash and escaped on foot in the area.
• Braemar Avenue - Two (2) men travelling in a white Mitsubishi Pajero held up a motorcyclist at gun point and rode off with his motor cycle along Braemar Ave.
• Intersection of Trinidad Terrace and Grenada Crescent – Two (2) men on a motor cycle held up and robbed a man of US$10,000.00. A licence firearm holder and security guard intervened and during a gun battle the security guard was shot and killed.
• Dumfries Rd - A lone man on foot armed with a knife robbed a female of cash and phone; he escaped on foot in the area.
Larceny of Motor Vehicle
• Jamaica National Car Park – Complainant parked his 1999 white Mitsubishi Lancer motor car and on his return, discovered that the car was missing.
• Holborn Road – Complainant parked his 1993 Red Suzuki Swift motor car and went to transact business; when he returned the car was missing.
• Park Blvd – Complainant parked her 1995 white Nissan Sunny and went to transact business; on her return the car was discovered missing.
• Emancipation Park – Complainant parked motor car and on his return he discovered it missing.
It is to be noted that these incidents are not confined to the New Kingston area only, but will and have occurred in other parts of the metropolis.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Given the above situation, precautionary measures should be taken by everyone in the interest of personal safety and the protection of property. The following recommendations are being made:
• Always be extra vigilant and aware of your surroundings, especially when you are operating in any of the areas named above.
• Avoid travelling around with large sums of cash or any attractive item that you cannot afford to lose.
• Do not withdraw large sums of cash from Banks unless you have made the necessary security arrangements. Recently, many persons have been robbed having collected large sums of cash from banks.
• Never leave attractive items/packages in your car where they can be easily seen; robbers are now breaking/removing windows in order to steal.
• Look out for suspicious persons who may try to get close to you in order to rob or otherwise harm you. Always be very alert and take evasive actions in a timely manner!
• Security guards MUST remain vigilant and pay attention to Access Control Procedures – this is a zero error rate area. Car Park patrols must also be conducted very frequently to guard against the theft of vehicles.
GOOD LUCK!