Independence partygoers urged to secure property from thieves
Published:Wednesday | August 3, 2022 | 12:11 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
AHEAD OF this weekend’s upcoming Jamaica 60 Grand Gala and other Independence celebrations, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is urging citizens to take responsibility for their safety and personal property.
That caution was given even while the police pledged to be out in force to curb potential criminal acts.
Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson made the comment while addressing a JCF press briefing on Tuesday.
“In any of these events, we deploy extensive resources to cover them, both overt and covert resources, and we will provide that security,” Anderson said.
“For things like cell phones, it is really important that people secure them and be aware of what is happening around them, as these are massive crowds and we only have so many assets that are used to police these crowds,” said Anderson.
Significant deployment
The commissioner said that there would be “significant deployment” for the Grand Gala and other events and sought to assure that law enforcers would their best to secure venues.
Anderson’s statements follow last weekend’s recovery of $2 million worth of cellular phones and other gadgets which were stolen from patrons during the Dream Weekend party series in Negril, Westmoreland.
Approximately $200,000 and 30 pounds sterling was also seized.
The robberies are reported to have been committed by members of a gang that targeted unsuspecting patrons. Three men who were taken into custody in connection with the seizure are booked to appear in court on Wednesday. Two other men are being sought.
Anderson told Tuesday’s briefing that, as in the Dream Weekend incident, party patrons who lose personal items should inform the police right away, as that would increase the chances of stolen or missing items being recovered.
“It is a good thing that these items were recovered in this case, because we know that there are other cases when they are not. But the quicker that we can be told, it is the more effective we can be in our response,” said Anderson.
The commissioner noted that while technology existed to track phone locations, persons are urged to exercise care in public spaces and crowds.
The upcoming Grand Gala, scheduled for the National Stadium on August 6 as part of Jamaica’s Diamond Jubilee celebration, is expected to see patronage of about 30,000.