Businessmen held @ gunpoint on Tortola & VG- RVIPF
Matthews is engaging the community in a Territory-wide crackdown to reduce the number of firearms available for carrying out serious or violent crime.
“Stop searches in the past were successful but today, with the communication devices and networks available to tip off possible suspects, stop-searches are not as effective as they used to be. They are most effective, if persons provide information on possible suspects. We don’t need your name or address – you can be anonymous. Just tell us directly who has firearms and where they are. We don’t need to know anything else. We will take it from there. This will add value and productivity to the time we are out there,” he said.
Three recent incidents involving use of firearm
Three separate incidents reported within the last four days have involved the use of firearms. Early this morning, two masked males attempted to rob the Delta Petroleum Gas Station in Pasea Estate while on Sunday morning, a businessman reported he was held at gunpoint by two masked males in Virgin Gorda. Another businessman also reported he was held at gunpoint by a lone masked male in the Port Purcell area on Thursday evening. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
“The ease with which persons are able to secure firearms in this Territory is no doubt because security of our borders is difficult to police 24 hours a day. This is not unique to the Virgin Islands. Much of the Territories in the Caribbean face the same dilemma. We just need to put fear in those who dare to have a firearm or to make it very difficult for someone to keep it or carry it around. That happens in a society where there is an absolute intolerant to persons illegally holding or carrying a firearm. Therefore, report any one who is seen or who is believed to have a firearm and we will do the rest,” the Commissioner noted.
Commissioner of Police noted there is a lot of overt and covert police work going on behind the scenes into the early morning hours however that time will be more productive if there was a greater exchange of information.
Police have confiscated seven firearms and several rounds of ammunitions for the year so far.
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8 Responses to “Businessmen held @ gunpoint on Tortola & VG- RVIPF”
Police know what's going on with these guns dropping out of sofas, etc, and they are afraid to break up this gun ring? Come on, the first one they catch, send a strong message...undesirable, you got to go.
Someone could call anonymously and claim they saw me with a firearm (even if I don't have one), and i'll be arrested? How can the police determine if the tipster has a motive?
I guess no one has rights.