Police in Anguilla have launched a manhunt for a number of armed and masked persons who are responsible for a spate of robberies and burglaries on the island, committed largely against restaurants earlier this month and with some violence, as recent as January 22 and 26.

L-R: Acting Inspector Emris Rogers, Deputy Commissioner Illidge Richardson and Inspector Sinclair

Reporters were told at the police press briefing on Wednesday this week, that in the incident on the night of January 22, at about 11.40, they responded to a report of an attempted robbery at Barrel Stay Restaurant at Sandy Ground. According to the report, two masked men, dressed in black entered the restaurant. One of them placed a gun to the head of an employee and demanded money. The proprietor, who had just arrived at the premises, and on seeing what was happening, shouted at the robbers who fled the scene.
In the second incident, on the night of January 26 at about 11.05, the police responded to a reported robbery at Veya Restaurant, located just under the hillside at Sandy Ground. On arrival the police were told that two masked men dressed in black, attacked, beat and robbed the proprietors of a laptop. They were taken to the hospital by ambulance. The male proprietor suffered several lacerations on his head and a deeply chopped and broken arm.
Inspector Paul Sinclair, who is working closely with Senior Investigating Officer, Ermis Rogers, who spoke with the reporters earlier, said that on Tuesday the police arrested three men in connection with a series of robberies. One of them was later released from custody without charge. Two others, a 17-year-old youth and an adult male, unconnected to each other, remain in custody. One of them is suspected of attempting the robbery at Barrel Stay and the other is on suspicion of other robberies elsewhere.
The Inspector said that during the course of the investigations (which are continuing) the Task Force, using a search warrant, went at a home where they found eight .22 rounds of live ammunition, but no firearm. He stated that the boy was from a very good home with caring parents who were extremely cooperative but surprised by the incident. “The matter is being investigated separately …in relation to suspected robberies,” he said. He further reported that the Task Force was pursuing another suspected person whom they expect to take in “sooner than later.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector advised business persons and others operating at places located in dark areas, and without security especially after workers have gone home, to contact him for crime prevention assistance if necessary. Deputy Commissioner, Illidge Richardson, suggested that all businesses should ensure that they have security systems in place to alert them of a possible burglary or robbery.
In an another case, the police reported that on January 23, Lisa Xavier of Long Ground, an accountant at a business establishment in The Valley, was arrested on a warrant for theft of over US$12,000 from her workplace.
She was also charged with destroying accounts, falsification of accounts; two counts of forgery and nine counts of theft. Other charges may be brought against her and possible accomplices. The defendant appeared in court on January 23 and was granted bail in the sum of $25,000 to reappear in court on April 9.
In the regular police report, for January 22-28, reporters were told that 17 crimes had been committed during that period. Six of them were burglaries in The Valley, Crocus Hill, Stoney Ground and Old Ta. Items stolen included a cellular phone charger, a laptop and a television set.

Nine thefts occurred at Sandy Ground, North Side, The Quarter, South Hill, Blowing Point, Island Harbour and West End. Among the items stolen were three bicycles, a BlackBerry cellular phone, glass louvres, a wallet, magnet stickers, welder and a sum of money.

The two cases of attempted robbery and robbery reported earlier at Sandy Ground, also formed part of the police report.

There were seven arrests: two males for being armed with offensive weapons; one female for theft; one male for possession of ammunition, two males on suspicion of robbery; and one male for criminal trespass.

In yet another matter, three male students at Campus B appeared before the Magistrate’s Court charged with assaulting another student, who was struck on the head, and a rope, in a hanging noose, was said to have been thrown around his neck. They were arrested but were granted bail to reappear at court later.

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