BVI News

Stolen devices being resold for cheap, cops suspect

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Unknown assailants have been burglarizing businesses such as electronic stores on Tortola, and law enforcers suspect burglars are now reselling the stolen devices at cheap prices.

Police also suspect the said burglars are behind the recent break-in at iSmart in Road Town.

Police said the crooks stole laptops, cellular phones, and other electronic items.

“Targeted were other electronic stores as well as construction offices where valuable tools and cash are stored,” the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force said in a media release on Tuesday.

“Police are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have been offered new, cheap electrical items,” it added.

Detectives are now investigating the recent burglaries that happened in Road Town and on Wickhams Cay II.

Persons with information are asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Department through the three-digit access number, 311.

In the meantime, business owners are being advised to secure their properties with alarms and CCTV cameras.

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17 Comments

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  1. huh says:

    Since the hurricane about 4000 new people came into the BVI to work….Do we really know who they are??? We accepting folks without doing proper background checks

    • like you late? says:

      Anyone coming into or applying for BVI visa has to provide a clean police record before they even step foot here. These thefts are are a result of locals not having jobs not because there aren’t any but because they all have this “I’m above a day job” mentality. Prove me wrong…

    • Jeanne Justice says:

      Really? The refusal to accept that the criminality is local is what will destroy us. This denial of responsibility is not unique to the BVI, but having company in our blindness won’t protect us. “We have met the enemy, and he is us'(Pogo)

  2. ok NOW says:

    We need more police patrols, especially at nights, on foot and in cars.

  3. Wes says:

    All the serial numbers and IMEIs on the cell phones will be in the business places records. Buy these things and find yourself in front of the Magistrate on a stolen goods charge!

  4. Law Application? says:

    The BVI is a country of economic opportunity and advancement for 100% 0f its immigrants.

    However, it is not known how many or what percentage engages in crimes of this sort, but be not fooled, many are.

    However, whenever law enforcement chooses to make an example it selects a “local.”

    After destructive Irma for example, there were tremendous exportation of goods by sea and air of all sorts and kinds, and they were not exported by “locals.” Yet not one individual was even questioned relative to such.

    Further analysis of enforcement suggest that only “locals” are targeted in crimes in this territory, while others including entire non local communities live free from any scrutiny or account, be they drugs or other.

    That’s just not apportioned law application.

  5. Rubber Duck says:

    Did they work this out all by themselves. ? Wow no shinola Sherlock.

  6. Hmm says:

    They need to look into the persons who will be jail-breaking these devices as well.

  7. Hint says:

    Check the luggage and parcels going to the other caribbean countries, especially guyana,jamaica and santo domingo

  8. @ like you late says:

    As a BVIslander it hurts me to agree with you. Most of the guys coming in since hurricanes to work are making so much money on their jobs and they’re going to steal electronics? Give me a break! It’s a bunch of young lazy ppl causing the problems but don’t worry someone will lay hands on them real soon and it won’t be pretty.

    • Gumption. Official says:

      I 110% agreed with you. The imported people are making money and don’t have time for stealing. This is being done by people who live here and know the ropes. However the serial numbers of the phones should be in a book… Anyone why buy the stole goods should have a visit with the magistrate

  9. See says:

    I am so relieved that our police have reached such a genius conclusion . No wonder crime is rampant .

  10. Theo says:

    BVI is a leaky sieve. The kind of problems we have are due to not putting the proper controls in place and investing wben there was the capital to do so.

    People have the potential for criminal behaviour and we were passed the point of BVI that was manageable just through sight in that a person would,commit a crime and we could,all know,and see who it was amd theyd be labled in society.

    its really not impossible to fix these swcurity issues but local politics will delay this process of securing retail commerce which should,really be a priority for an unknown amoumt of time.

    what the hardware store was like with security post IRMA would become the norm everywhere. Enjoy being treated lkke a potential criminal everytime you go to the shop to buy a loaf of bread while the actual,criminals and criminality will fester because the general atmosphere in the nation will be that of a prison

  11. really says:

    who said that only locals are being charged? how did you came to this conclusion?

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