By John Denny Observer Reporter
(Cotton Ground, Nevis) ” Repeated burglaries are frustrating some residents to the point of finding new places to live ” either elsewhere on Nevis or out of the country altogether. Two expats in the Jones Estate area say they have been repeatedly broken into, even though there is nothing left for the thieves to steal. The good news is police are saying these two expats are the only burglary victims in the Cotton Ground jurisdiction in the past two weeks and the police also believe they have arrested the ones responsible and those criminals are now behind bars. This good news does little to abate the concerns of those being robbed, nor do they believe the latest statistics. “The first time, they stole a camera and an iPod,” said one burglary victim. “They broke in several times since then, but they just rummage through my closets and under my bed. There is nothing left for them, but I guess they are coming back to see if I have replaced the things they stole.” The burglars/trespassers have begun to settle with just hanging out at the house while the victim is at work. Wednesday Online Code for Issue # 731 is VAT “They know my work schedule by now, so they come in and play dominos and help themselves to whatever is in the fridge,” said the victim. “Someone even came in one day in wet clothes and took a nap on my daybed.” The latest incident involved three men standing in the victim’s yard outside a bedroom window at 2:30 a.m. “I was asleep, but woke up when I heard a footstep,” the victim said. “I looked outside and there were three young men standing in the yard. They weren’t talking or doing anything, just standing in the yard. I called the police and they arrived in 12 minutes, but (the men) slipped away. I have burglar bars, but they keep breaking the lock on the front door. This house is in a secluded spot which makes it an easy target. I have to move. I can’t keep putting up with this. I didn’t even report the last break-in. It wouldn’t do any good.” The other victim is planning to leave Nevis, in part because of the unrelenting thievery. His house was broken into three times in four weeks. The first time thieves stole their standard fare of easily transportable valuables ” camera, DVDs, cash, silk ties, cuff links and other items. The subsequent break-ins were to see if he had replaced to stolen items, he thinks. “The police did nothing,” he said. “They didn’t even make a proper list of the things that were stolen. I offered to make a list, but they weren’t interested. I”m astounded that a police force can be so unconcerned. I need a proper police report to file an insurance claim and they just don’t seem to care. The government needs to start taking these things seriously. If they don’t, who is going to want to come here?” According to one police officer, wishing to remain un-named, the two suspected of the burglaries were Jermain Wilkinson and Cleve David, both of Cotton Ground. Mr. Wilkinson was sent to prison for uttering a false document and Mr. David was incarcerated for being found in enclosed premises. The basis for the police’s suspicion was simple: “They have been arrested for that kind of thing before,” said the police officer.
