Bodden Town sees serious burglary spike
(CNS): Over half of the burglary reports made to the RCIPS across Grand Cayman this month have occurred in Bodden Town, senior police said Wednesday, as they raised concerns about the crime spike in the district and the continuing increase in the crime in general. Police management said the burglaries were mostly daytime break-ins when residents are at work but there have been night-time burglaries at commercial premises as well. The police also said the increase in car thefts in the district is related to the break-ins, as burglars are stealing car keys, among other things, during their crime sprees.
“Burglaries have been climbing steadily this year, and the spike in Bodden Town is a concern,” said Pete Lansdown, Detective Superintendent. “We have dedicated more officers to the Eastern Districts to combat this trend, and detectives are being reassigned from George Town to the district this week. We clearly have some serial burglars at work in the area and are following up on some concrete enquiries to make arrests.”
The police are describing many of the burglaries as opportunistic but the villains are smashing windows, forcing doors open and making holes through ceilings to break into commercial properties, while taking advantage of unlocked doors and windows or forcing them to enter residential properties. The loot taken in the home burglaries has been small and portable, such as video games and equipment, X-boxes, purses, car keys, small quantities of cash, alcohol and food.
Police pointed to the spike in the number of car thefts, which they say begun to occur last week and are linked to the burglaries, as well as thefts from several parked cars.
“We have had reports where car keys were stolen and used to steal a vehicle, which has turned up a day or two later, sometimes with damage,” Lansdown said. “Many of the burglaries seem very opportunistic, with culprits entering through unlocked doors and windows to steal food and alcohol. This could be motivated by drug and alcohol abuse. Most of the burglaries, especially those in Bodden Town, don’t appear to be planned with any of the sophistication that would be needed to remove large appliances or break open safes.”
Police are urging people to reinforce or replace old locks on windows and doors, and secure car keys and purses in the home away from open windows or doors. Neighbourhood officers at Bodden Town Police Station can help the public with a crime prevention reviews of their homes.
There are three active neighbourhood watch programmes in the Bodden Town area in Northward, Corolla Drive, and North Sound Estates. Those residents who would like to enquire about these programmes, start their own, or who want crime prevention advice can call the Bodden Town Police Station to speak with neighbourhood officers.
“In recent weeks three new neighbourhood watches have begun in George Town, and we’d like to repeat this in Bodden Town, to add to the active ones we already have,” said Inspector Rudi Gordon, Neighborhood Inspector for the Eastern Districts. “Neighbourhood watches are a great way for residents to empower themselves and funnel more information to us that we need to stop crime.”
A community meeting will be scheduled in Bodden Town with Commissioner of Police Derek Byrne in the near future to discuss burglary issues and other policing concerns with residents.
Anyone with information about the recent burglaries can contact the Bodden Town Police station at 947-2240 or the George Town Police Station at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can be provided to the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS), or online here.
Saw a dude get out of his dark suv vehicle stuff something in waist which resembled a pistol and walk down the road and disappear into a yard right in a shopping plaza right deh in Bodden Town not a single police car cross for hours . Yes Bodden Town is definately a dangerous place to be a night. When the police cross dey doing 90mph dey cant see anything. i think that is intentional.
And I bet you would not call police and perhaps would complain that Police don’t do their job! ?
Yes last time i tried that foolish idea the police came and search the person who made the report and his house! what an idiot
RCIPS has an annual budget of $30,000,000 with >400 full-time officers – do we ever wonder: where does it all go?
One of the many wonders that pass my mind daily….
If we didn’t have such vast resources I could understand the lack of presence but this just doesn’t add up; like so many other things in this Country.
Western Union.
Have residents of Bodden Town and indeed every district ever thought of having a Neighbourhood Watch programme. I don’t mean a vigilante group. Even though we have a much larger Police Force throughout the UK, we too, have little officers patrolling rural areas. There are Government cut backs of Police Officers throughout our community. However, we all watch out for each other and report anything suspicious and not afraid to do so. Despite some people’s belief, Police Officers do need the help of the general public in solving crimes. Don’t think it’s ‘their job’ and why should you help them. It is in you, and everyones interest to put these criminals behind bars. Police cannot be in every corner of the island 24hrs a day. It’s not just patrolling the streets they cover. They have a multitude of criminal activities going on. Far more than domestic burglaries unfortunately. It is not easy to convict the perpetrator without the evidence.
I fully understand your reluctance in making a report for fear of repercussions but there is a line of anonymity. Join together people and stand up against these criminals. If you see or hear something REPORT IT!! It could be your property next.
They go to my 8th generation father’s brother who did not desert any ancient wars and are still living in Jamaica.
Bodden town is a shit hole. Make west bay look good. This is new Kingston town
Mac’s status grants saying thank you.
This is the Cayman Islands, idiot, NO part of which is a shit hole except the one between your ears.
More police on the streets.
Especially at night.
“This could be motivated by drug and alcohol abuse”
And hunger, boredom, peer pressure etc…
Greed, selfishness and immorality. That is the only reasons for criminality. Scum. Do not become an apologist for scum.
Sort it out PPM and RCIPS!!! We are fed up of this shit!!
Yeah??? PPM have been SILENT for 4 years darlin’; wake-up!!!!
Obviously crime doesn’t mean diddly squat to the Premier and his band of bandits.
Burglaries are out of control in all the Eastern districts. Burglars and fences do whatever they want because they know they will never be prosecuted successfully. I understand that less than 2% of burglaries are ever prosecuted and those that are prosecuted normally walk or get a slap on the wrist. The fences that arrange for goods to be shipped off island never get prosecuted. They just walk around with pockets full of cash. We need to make some serious changes to toughen our laws and also make some major personnel changes in the government prosecution service if we are ever going to burglaries under control. Next week I am going to vote for whoever is going to be tough on crime and criminals.
Fences?
That’s because the politician that is crying out for their wotes now has done absolutely zilch to help his Bodden town constituents over the past decade.
When called, the BT police have been absolutely hopeless. Recently, they could not even find the road an assault took place on, and when on Mijall Road, they asked residents if this was “Apple Road”. There is no such road. They are beyond incompetent and the Englishman who took over from Baines needs to do something about his useless cops. And arrest our constant thief JP who every time he’s out breaks in to shops and homes. If he or anyone else breaks into mine, I will chop him.
The ‘Englishman’ who took over Baines…Do you even know who the new commissioner is?
Yes, I believe he is from Ireland. Same dog, different breed as we say in Cayman, bobo. Ok?
Saying Irishmen are the same as Englishmen is as reasonable or polite as saying Caymanians are the same as Jamaicans -bobo.
And we know that not true!
Jotnar: you should know by now that anyone in high posts in Government of indeterminate nationality who is not a Caymanian or a Jamaican or an American/Canadian is an “Englishman”.
5:48pm we are left out in the cold when it comes to the Police. There was an incedent almost 2 weeks ago that I reported and I have not heard who the culprit was. I know that he is from another district, but has never been told officially. Too many dodgers moving into BT.
Your constant thief is also mine. 3 separate occasions at our house, once we hear he is out the neighborhood goes into lock down
e is dis a gud ol buoy.