Home burglaries on the rise

Amid the gun crimes that have been plaguing the community, the police are reporting that burglaries are on the rise in the Virgin Islands.

The police have recorded 11 more dwelling burglaries in 2023 when compared to the same period last year. They said areas mainly affected fall in and around the vicinity of Road Town: Huntums Ghut, Horse Path, Pasea Estate, Lower Estate, Free Bottom, Main Street and McNamara.

A press release from the police said perpetrators often gain entry to homes during the day through unsecured windows, especially those obscured from public view.

Head of the Criminal Investigations Department, Acting Detective Chief Inspector Vernon Larocque, said homeowners often report that they secured all the windows except for one window which needed to be repaired.

“In too many instances, this is the window that a perpetrator uses to gain access. Homeowners should take the time to repair the locking mechanism for any inoperable windows and lock all windows that allow for easy access. Burglars are looking for any weak points of entry. If there is not an easy way to enter, a burglar will likely move on,” Larocque said.

Larocque also advises residents to install home security cameras.

“Another easy deterrent is closed circuit television. In this modern era, CCTV is accessible, inexpensive, and easy to install. The footage can be stored remotely on the cloud and can be monitored in real-time from any location around the world. Law enforcement can also be alerted while the offence is being committed. While there are no foolproof measures to prevent burglaries, there is some peace of mind knowing that even if you are not at home, there are eyes keeping watch and recording activities in and around your property,” he added.

Recent burglaries showed that cash, jewellery and tools were the items predominately stolen.

Persons who can assist police with information about any burglary are being asked to call the Crime Stoppers line at 800-8477 (TIPS). They may also call from overseas on 1-284-800-8477 or contact the RVIPF Intelligence Unit at 368-9339.