Crime in Anguilla took a further relieving nosedive as it went from 21 reports last week to 11 for the period September 16 to 23.

Topping the criminal activity list was theft with five reports coming from South Hill, Roaches Hill, Island Harbour and George Hill. Items stolen were a cell phone, a lady’s blouse, gasoline, auto parts and a goat.

Inspector Emris Rogers and Supt. Rudolph Proctor

Other crime included three reports of criminal damage in Tackling, North Side and The Cove and two burglaries, one in North Side and the other in The Valley where cases of Heineken Beer, Milwaukee Beer, Guinness Stout, Bryson sodas, coke, sprite, juices and foodstuff were stolen.

There was one case of robbery in Black Garden. The outlaws made off with jewellery, a laptop and a digital camera. Inspector of Criminal Investigations, Emris Rogers, disclosed that, on Monday September 21, a resident of Black Garden reported to Police Headquarters that, at about 10:00 pm, two masked men broke into her home. Both men were armed with firearms. They demanded money and jewellery, tied up the victim, searched and ransacked her house, then fled the scene with their loot. The victim who was the lone occupant of the house received injuries to her arm and back. Rogers said a young man from The Valley is presently in Police custody assisting in the investigation. He said that man is well known to Police.

Superintendent of police, Rudolph Proctor remarked that the description of the men as that one was tall and the other short. He said the weapons they were carrying did not fit the description of past double assailants with the same height descriptions.

The Superintendent described the attack as “terrible.” He said the invasion of the private residence and damage left behind was unacceptable. “There was considerable disruption in [the] house,” he stated and assured that, like any other criminal investigation, Police had deployed “all our investigative resources.”

“This is one of the most uncomfortable feelings anybody can have when your privacy is invaded…The humiliation that goes with it, and your personal property is destroyed in front your face, and you yourself are the victim of violence,” Proctor lamented. He added that it was not a comfortable feeling. He reported that Officers were able to pick up pieces of evidence in the form of items that may have been worn by the crooks. Proctor said they would be sent to a Police Lab for analysis.

Proctor again appealed to the public for support. He asked that if anyone saw persons moving around in the Black Garden, Limestone, North Side or Valley areas during the time of the incident and wearing gloves, masks or dark clothing, he or she should report it to Police Headquarters. Black Garden is a sparsely populated area.

Ten arrests were made during the period. They were one male to prevent a breach of the peace, one male for actual bodily harm, four males on suspicion of robbery, two males for theft, one male for burglary and one male for evasion liability.

There were three minor traffic accidents.

Fire Officer Charged for Publication of Indecent Material

A firefighter was picked up by Officers of the Royal Anguilla Police Force and charged with publishing indecent material on the Internet. Superintendent Proctor revealed that another person was still being investigated but was presently out of Anguilla’s jurisdiction. He said the investigation was ongoing following a report to Police of the publication of “private material between two individuals on the internet.” The suspect was arrested late last week and was out on bail.

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