The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

WOMEN are playing an increasing role in housebreaking, according to police.

Six women were among 11 people arrested over the last month in connection with thefts across the police’s Eastern Division.

Elaine Sands, Superintendent in charge of the division, said: “Be mindful of females knocking at your doors. Don’t open the doors to any stranger. We want to note that females are mightily involved in the breakings. We had suspected women were involved for about a year now.”

Jewellery and 17 large televisions were among the stolen items police recovered during what was described as a major breakthrough into housebreaking rings.

Among the stolen items were a toaster oven, two stereos, five laptops, jewellery, six DVD players, numerous video games and 17 televisions.

Officers at Elizabeth Estates Police Station showed the items to the press yesterday. Victims of housebreaking can now come to the station to see if their items were among the items police recovered.

Persons are asked to bring a copy of their receipts and to be capable of giving an account of the appearance of the stolen items when they go to the police station.

Superintendent Sands said the arrests and recovery of stolen items underscores the need for people to take steps toward safeguarding themselves from thieves.

She said: “The eastern division has been doing some very good work as it relates to housebreaking in the area. They’ve just had a major breakthrough and I’d like to commend officers who played a role.

“We started making arrests Thursday before last and we’ve been able to send at least six persons to court. 11 persons have been arrested either for receiving stolen items or stealing the items.

“We are urging the public to be each other’s keeper. Be on the lookout throughout the day. For a lot of the victims, entry into their houses was gained after persons kicked down their doors.”

Another officer, Sergeant Hanna, said: “When persons are away to work during the day, that’s the timeframe where we find robbery is most often committed. We also find that the robbers tend to stay away from the houses which contain alarms and cameras.”

Supt Sands said the housebreaking was scattered and not concentrated in one particular area in the eastern community.

The age ranges of those arrested, she said, were between 20 and 32 and the persons came from around the island.

One was even caught red handed, she said: “We went from house to house and picked them out based on the information we gathered.”

Speaking about the kinds of measures people can take to prevent their items being stolen in the future, the officers said be aware of persons driving unfamiliar vehicles in the neighbourhood and report persons who do so to the police.

Officer Cleophas Cooper, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Eastern Division, said be aware of thieves posing as service providers.

“If you haven’t called a service provider and someone shows up at your door, call the police and inform them of the person by getting a description of them, such as their height and clothing,” he said.