Cop patrols aim to stop burglars ahead of break-ins
(CNS): As the RCIPS continues efforts in the crime crackdown, another 26 people were arrested over the long weekend, several of whom were suspects attempting to break into various premises or equipped for burglary. Aiming to intercept would-be burglars before they get inside the targeted properties, police continue to actively patrol in Bodden Town, where anti-burglary efforts have cut crime sharply, with only two reports last week. Police in George Town also continue to round up suspects, though burglaries and car thefts in that district show no sign of declining.
Detective Superintendent Pete Lansdown welcomed the fall in burglaries in Bodden Town but said that two burglaries were still too many. “We are continuing to increase our proactive policing throughout the islands to interrupt all criminal activity, with a focus on burglaries,” he said.
He urged residents to continue helping the RCIPS because local people know their communities and can be the first to notice when things are not right and help the police to respond as quickly as possible.
“We encourage members of the public to continue reporting suspicious activity to us,” Lansdown said in a direct appeal to the people. “You know better than anyone what is out of the ordinary for your neighbourhood, and it is the timely reporting of suspicious activity to us that enables us to disrupt burglars and arrest them on the spot.”
As a result of quick responses to reports and active patrolling, police were able to stop a number of break-ins from happening over the weekend and round up suspects.
On Saturday night, just after 11pm, officers picked up a 26-year-old suspect from George Town following an attempted burglary at a gas station on Dorcy Drive. While making checks in the area in response to the report, officers saw a man fitting the description. When they stopped and searched him, they found that he was in possession of tools and gloves in his backpack. They therefore arrested him on suspicion of going equipped for stealing.
Then on Sunday 12 June, a 47-year-old man from George Town was arrested in connection with a burglary at a residence on Grand Palm Link, in the South Sound area of the capital. Police searched the suspect’s address and recovered a number of mostly electronic stolen goods. He was arrested and charged on suspicion of both burglary and handling stolen goods, and is scheduled to appear in court today.
Yesterday morning (20 June), another two men were arrested in George Town on suspicion of theft and for going equipped for stealing. Police on proactive patrol saw the men behaving suspiciously and approached them. After speaking with the suspects, the officers searched their vehicle and found a bolt cutter and construction materials. The 37-year-old man from West Bay and the 40-year-old from George Town were arrested and are currently in custody.
The RCIPS are doing great lately. Why were they sluggish to attack Crime? Tourists do follow news, too.
how about stopping the regular boat to and from JA moving illegal items back and forth. if i have heard about this then everyone must know about it…..so who’s pockets are being lined?
What a novel idea. Proactive patrols. How come you didn’t think of this before?
It’s so welcoming to see that RCIPS is being proactive in weedling out these criminals. Prevention is better than cure!
I commend all officers. With the publics cooperation working together with law enforcement will eventually get these islands to be a safer environment to live.
No place on earth will be crime free but getting these criminals off the streets and for them to realise that Cayman is zero tolerance when it comes to crime. This excessive crime wave that we are experiencing IS going to stop! The people of Cayman are not going to just roll over and accept this decline of these beautiful islands any longer. Let us rid this island of the scum, both expats and homegrown Caymanians. Stand up people and be proactive in yourself. DO NOT be afraid to report any suspicious behaviour. It could be your house next. RCIPS has an excellent and well experienced expat team of senior officers who will lead any investigation through to conviction. This can only be achieved successfully with your help.
I am happy to know that the Police actually stopped this man and found stuff in his back pak that could be used to gain entrance to a robbery. This is what I have been saying for a many years now. As you drive out on the road you can see these strange guys looking so evil with back packs dark glasses etc that makes any sensible person wonder and afraid. I have always been saying that the Cops should stop and check them out. In our neighbor hoods they can be seen riding motor bikes small and large bicycles with handkerchiefs and black sun glasses on their faces for disguise. We need special Police on the roads and in the neighbourhoods on a look out for these people.
I think that we should resurrect all the Cayman islands founding fathers so that they can chase all of these today Politicians of the Islands and take the Islands back.
I know that they are all rolling over, if knew what they were doing and allowing to happen on the Islands today.
This will not be a meaningful deterrent and both the police and the politicians are partially to blame for not allowing law abiding citizens to fully exercise their right of self defense.
I think the police need to start policing the small crimes to show they are willing to do something. Today, in the morning traffic I was behind a car with a lawnmower balanced in the open trunk and only one brake light working, next to me was a police car that did nothing about it. These things can be used as an opportunity to pull people over and see what they are up to, if they are willing to break one law they are possibly breaking others.
Yes and the way people speed is out of control the police really should do something about that
Similarly, dawdling motorists that brake for green lights and clear traffic circles impede traffic flow. Threshold braking to let someone in from the left (that does not have right of way), and nearly causing a 1/4 mile of piles up behind them, is an action of misplaced self-assertion not of benevolence. Yield to the right or GO please! Pull off the public roadway if you want to text or Whatsapp someone!
Remember now RCIPS that you might have to actually get out of the car and look around ok?
With the crime spike as it is… please tell me who in the right mind would place 40 cops on enforced leave!! RCIP on its knees… utter chaos and a shambles, they all leaving!! I’m hearing another 40 cops left so far…. Whoever in charge of this mess should be held accountable.. where is our country going!! This is worst I ever known.
Would you prefer if they got to the end of the month and not get paid because there is no money in the police budget to pay them? What about no petrol for cars, supplies to do basic policing, etc?
If you do not know what you are talking about, the better thing to do is learn, not pass judgement.
Well, if that is the issue, and you seem to know A LOT about it… REPORT IT! Not to the RCIPS obviously, they can’t email me back to save their life. Report it to CNS and let them do a story on it. The more the public knows the better.
Sorry Guy – get the facts straight. The statement said that 40 officers are on enforced leave because they have accumulated so much overtime they have to take their leave. It is as far as I read – staggered so that people in the same department are not all off at the same time although I suspect there is some overlap – at least that’s what I would do. One go off one month, the next follows a month later and so on so that they do not create a huge burden. I do agree that a few left but with the recent recruitment I think they are at full complement. People calling for more police? Well then, we will have more police with twiddling thumbs. I know I know – it feels like we are having a huge rise in crime but in reality we are now hearing about them i.e. burglaries but the murders, how many have we had so far in 2017? So it would seem like crime is seasonal and if you watch when certain prisoners are released we then know who committing certain crimes. They are the ones to track when they get out of jail.
Sorry Anonymous… at least have courage to put your name to your posts… who the keyboard warrior then…?
Facts: My statement say that ’40 cops on enforced leave’ – No mention of overtime in my post. It’s not overtime Bobo, it time they owed. Some officers on leave for 6 months or more.. aint no staggering – they all off now. So despite what you would do.. they all off at the same time. And there 40 of them.. Ask the RCIP, they admit it…. You watch the news? You hear Ezzard?
Facts: 40 officers leave in last 12 months – ask RCIP – do FOI.. they tell you. You say ‘a few’ left… You say ‘I think they are at full compliment’.. wow, you know jack… you know nothing… Recent recruitment… all five of them?
You say it feels like we having a huge rise in crime… well surprise surprise.. we ARE having a huge rise in crime.. but its okay you get your home trashed cos they aint no murders this year!! No problem then….. Oh boy…
It not only police we need to look at… looking at your post it education as well..
The public need to know!
Cayman has gone. Now we are living in the land that the 1980’s – 90’s developers created. More racism and violence than ever expected.
And the guy responsible for all that development, 4:06, is our main national hero with a statue not far from the ruins of Fort George which he personally destroyed by driving the backhoe. And photos exist to prove this so it’s not fake news!!!
Well, it’s been rehashed countless times – with public outcry reaching a crescendo every year around the end of the annual Purple Ribbon seasonal blitz (going back several years) – that our Police need to be visible and enforcing all of our laws all the time in our communities. The response time must be reduced from >30 minutes to under 5 minutes if we hope to encourage the public to bother to make helpful 9-1-1 reports. The apprehension of criminals needs to move from a theoretical aspiration to a logistical reality by putting these officers in the field, shortening the distance to their targets, and equipping them with the training and knowledge to (a) understand the written law (not their subjective, or a crime-tolerant sub-standard West Indian interpretation), (b) show up, (c) enforce our laws.
We need more than police work. Successive Cabinets have failed to read any of the crime reduction reports since 2001. Now, more than ever, our Finance Ministry has to stop wasting our money on bad ideas/political vanity and cleave off a substantial recurring budget allocation for missing or deficient social services. These include birth control education and availability to reduce unwanted or unplanned teen pregnancies (the Cayman Islands is one of the few countries that does not submit UNFPA Adolescent Pregnancy stats), a National Youth Database, Youth Diversion Programs, Community Parenting Programs, Children with Incarcerated Parents Program, National Youth Commission, and Stop Now and Plan program for kids with behavioral issues. As Michael Myles has said, “we need to start doing some real work and putting into place some of these programs that all these experts have recommended”. Almost two decades of reports ignored.
So the increase in crime is the result of poor policing? Then someone should tell that to the prison. Any more policing and we will need a new one. This one is full and overflowing, with excess prisoners in the police jail.
Earn it
Wild wild west. How did this country come to this? Did a crime virus strike everybody’s brain?
GREED caused it.
Too many on the take covering for each other. Dart knew how easy the Country would be to control…who welcomed him and his entourage with open arms and pockets and sold their Country and Countrymen out? All Addictions are not easy to give up. Addictions to money and power are no exception. Jeffrey Webb is an example.
Keep up the Great work RCIPS!!