BVI seeing alarming rise in robberies
Just over halfway through the calendar year, the number of robberies in the British Virgin Islands has already surpassed those recorded in 2023.
According to data from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), there were 15 reported robberies last year, but as of July this year, the police had already recorded 16 robberies.
At this rate, robberies could potentially see a 100 percent increase or more in 2024. This year marks what could be described as an extraordinary period for the territory, as the number of robberies in the BVI had remained relatively steady over the past three years. In 2021, the territory recorded 16 robberies. The number then dipped to 11 in 2022 before seeing a slight increase last year.
Data from the RVIPF also suggest a possible upward trend in illicit acquisition crimes compared to previous years. The police recorded a staggering 324 incidents of illicit acquisition crimes—including theft, burglaries, and robbery—by July of this year. A total of 462 incidents were recorded last year, suggesting that the number of these crimes may surpass 2023 levels at this rate.
A further breakdown of the data shows that 71 dwelling burglaries were reported in 2023, while 52 were recorded up to July this year. There were 69 other kinds of burglaries committed last year compared to the 72 already seen up to July 2024. Eighty motor vehicle thefts were recorded last year, and 44 up to July 2024. As for other kinds of theft, RVIPF data indicates that 227 incidents occurred in 2023, with 140 recorded up to July this year.
Warning to residents
The RVIPF warned residents in June about a surge in burglaries across Tortola, particularly targeting commercial premises and homes. Thieves made off with cash, electronics, tools, and other valuable items, often offering them for sale at suspiciously low prices.
This crime wave included criminals exploiting the common practice of leaving rental car keys inside vehicles near seaports, using these cars for illegal activities before returning them unnoticed. There was also a noted increase in license plate thefts, with stolen plates used to disguise getaway vehicles and hinder police investigations.
Last year, the RVIPF had warned residents and car rental companies not to leave keys in their vehicles unattended. The police emphasised that most car thefts involved vehicles left unattended with keys inside, leading to a spike in incidents. Importantly, these stolen vehicles were not just disappearing—they were being used to commit other crimes.
Throughout the year, citizens expressed growing concern over these types of crimes, especially following a brazen daylight robbery at Aladdin Boutique and Jewellery Store on Flemming Street in Road Town earlier this year.
In response, Governor Daniel Pruce has assured the public that security will be his priority.
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these lil boys will rob the wrong one and find out
Yes, it is only a matter of time before they step to the wrong person. I’m laying patiently for one of those little boys to come and try to rob me. I got something special for them. I am going light them up like fireworks.And I don’t want to hear they were good boys and I mess up their little good boys. If they want money in their pockets, go bag groceries, wash cars, clean yards or go sell water by the roadside. And you women, stop spreading your legs to the no good men and breeding like hamsters, and bunny rabbits.
They are looking for the fast money and guess what they will get a fast exit out. It is only a matter of time these little boys is going to get handled. It is only a matter of time they are going to step on the wrong corn. And please when it happens, don’t be out here hollering about you are surprised and he was a good boy. Good boys don’t go around robbing people. Y’all parents better keep your rug rats and Bebe kids in line. I’m a 40 year old woman and and one of these disrespectful kids step in my face with the rudeness and disrespect, I am going to beat that kid like I am beating a woman my age. If I am walking down the road and I see a group of kids gust standing around I cross over to the other side of the road. I don’t trust them.
IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID!
The Premier will respond by saying the numbers look good and the economy is fine. The govt dont see any issues so keep on.
This is very true a happy society usually produces less crime. If people don’t feel the need to steal then they most likely won’t.
Keep letting them in. “The Monaco model is ideal.” lol
Investors YES
Infestors NO
Make BVI great again.
Quality vs Quantity
Drain the Swamp!
the “monaco model” wouldn’t benefit you unless you’re Kellner (RIP) or Page. your desire to be servant class to the ultra rich is insane.
Too many young men raised without fathers, and that’s the government’s fault for subsidizing the social pathology Give unmarried women money for having a child, and no serious effort to make the biological fathers pay child support. If you believe that the “root causes” of crime have to examined, start there. Of course, the root causes of criime are [drum roll] criminals!
I somewhat agree but I also think that way too many women are busting it open for some very low value men.
You expect to breed for a man who out clubbing partying smoking liming watching and following a set of half dressed females and grinding on random women in festival?
You breed for that man and expect him to sotick to you or be responsible? Lol cuz you special? Ok then.
Women need to choose better and have more standards for them self.
This also bring in more single parent homes that can breed more criminals cuz of the life style them parent live and no faster figure
But yes those worthless men who was already worthless when you met them should pay that child support I agree with that
Could not agree with you more, and thanks for making thet point. We are both correct, and one failure (government policy) feeds off of the other (poor choices made by young women) and vice versa.
Breakdown
Young Black males with ties to the cursed islunchain of Curry Carry Crumb and Come done.
To date,800+ murders in Trinidad since Jan 2024.
Young Black males taking the lives of their homies,their bros jus so.
Trinidad is Independent Caricom.
It has natural resources above and beyond control done.
One of most in the Caribbean Island chain of kill fo joy.
UK and COI making life hard for everybody so of course its going to rise. The working hard to make the place into a third world country. We cant even cut bush without their approval……..it sucks!!!!
Gov,most especially the currently
sad tale of a tail is the culprit that readily and systematically revised these BVI into a 3rd world display of Governing ala Caribbean Black style 3rd equate
3rd world criminality and performance. Blaming the UK and COI,even lizards and bananas is the ritual of Governing ala Caribbean Black Style.Billilns of people in this Workd but choosing to import in full force a major population of neer do wellls,criminals and leeches guaranteed poverty and vote popularity from the dark and darkish members of the Government organized infestation. None of this tragedy can be attributed to COI and or UK,as we all know. Simply a demonstration and application of the pervasive
predictable Black on Black crime
courtesy of badges and ballots.
We miss Andrew!
It sucks indeed.
Including wha deh Government done thief
Recently in Trinidad, 6 robbers were in a shootout with police and every single one was killed by the police. We need something like this. I bet you they will stop.
Yep, the police gun every last one of them down. One thing I can say is the police in Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana don’t be playing with the gangsters and robbers they don’t care who your Mami and Papi is or who you are related to. They will hunt you down. Now you are beginning to se why so many of the above mentioned countries people is flocking Tortola because they can’t get away with the BS in their Country like they can inTortola. And some have committed crimes in their Country and running from the police and the law in their Country or OPS.
Don’t lower your standards by laying down with these funky women that is walking around this place no matter how good they look with their backside and their chest hanging out. You want to know a secret fellows? The nest time you lay down with one of those women that had a BBL, pay attention to the smell that is coming from their body. The chemicals that they inject in their behinds carry a very offensive order from the chemicals they had injected in their behinds. As a man I don’t want any plastic woman.
Can’t u c the police could only go around bullying people for bad woman, they think at the end of the day they going to have sex with them for bullying set of island man police
Just send all the senior officers on leave and bring inn competent people to do the job, the problem is that we have the talented officers in the force right there who can get the job done, who can go out there and make a difference, but because of personal vendettas, hatred, nepotism cronyism, we have alot of square pegs in round holes, we will continue to suffer with these waste of time we have in office here, just look who incharge of operations, just look who incharge of crime, a mammoth JOKE, GOVERNOR PLEASE BRING SOME SENSIBLE PEOPLE TO RUN THIS POLICE FORCE.
THE OB/GYN DOCTORS NEED TO START STERILIZING THE WOMEN AND YOUNG GIRLS THAT IS OUT HERE BREEDING LIKE HAMSTERS FOR THE NO GOOD MEN. ALL THEY ARE DOING IS BRINGING THESE CHILDREN INTO THIS COLD UGLY WORLD TO SUFFER. LOOK AT THE PRICE OF PAMPERS AND FORMULAR. IF YOU ARE NOT FINANCIALLY STABLE THESE DAYS DON’T HAVE CHILDREN. IF YOU LAY DOWN WITH A MAN, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT YOURSELVES. DON’T GO RUNNING TO THE SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHEN YOUR BACK IS UP AGAINST THE WALL LADIES.
These women think they can trap a man or hold a man by getting pregnant. HONEY BUNS, that is the most STUPIDEST WAY OF THINKING. YOU CANNOT TRAP A MAN OR HOLD A MAN BECAUSE HE BREED YOU. THEN GOT THE NERVE TO CALL THE MAN ALL KIND OF DOGS AND DEADBEATS WHEN HE DON’T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU AND THE CHILD.
That is the most stupid and dumb way for a woman to think. LADIES, you cannot trap or hold a man because he breed you. Don’t go back to the SHOTGUN MARRIAGE way of thinking. Plenty of men and women in the BVI is suffering from SHOTGUN MARRIAGE SYNDROME. They were forced to marry because the woman got pregnant. Who is to say the man is in love or want to be with the woman he got pregnant. That is a miserable life.
Need cameras around CGB area where several robberies occurred. There is only one road in and out of the area. Put up cameras! Police just come hours after they are called. Leave finger printing black soot all over the place and never even follow up. Police need to get it together. Need more surveillance.
Don’t drop the blame on the police, drop the blame on the parents. When the police try to put them in check, the first thing you hear is the police brutalizing their children. Parents should be held accountable for their children’s actions. Honestly, there are young adult boys in the BVI that are decent and doing the right things who have manners and respect. The scrubs that is out here robbing people is making the decent ones look bad. When you see the young adults out here doing the right thing be it selling water or fruits and trying to make a honest dollar, support them, encourage them and give them their props.
4 females to 1 man on tola… do the maths!
N u have the police up the jail to protect you who’s going to protect the body guard u left your family out side come out of jail before you have to cry for them we want u dead stop hiding u bitch
They don’t stop these little wet behind the ears little boys from the robbing people they are going to upgrade to hard core criminals. Robbery today, killers tomorrow.A gangster is more dangerous when he/she is out for revenge.
This child support system in the court is not the answer, it only create criminals out a these underfunded and rudderless youths since no parental guidance will be involved. So let’s be real parents and not the money do the parenting.
Perhaps this increase in robberies in the BVI is because the RVIPF have tightened border security this year. Smugglers are idle, losing business and money so they rob whenever they see an opportunity to supplement their criminal life.
What do you expect when none of the boys are arrested or convicted? Did the police catch the boys with guns who robbed the Aladdin Jewellery store in February 2024 in Fleming Street yet? There was a video of them with the guns robbing the store. But even if there are arrested who is going to convict them – not a jury here.
Do you ever see police on the streets or patrolling apart from when they stop for lunch? Maybe its time for cameras? From the comments above these boys in real danger of dying if they rob the wrong person. BVI needs to find jobs for these boys other than robbers and drug smugglers. And where these guns coming from? The Ports Authority, Customs and Immigration guys need to starting searching locals boats and their stuff instead of harassing tourists.