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Unlocked vehicles in public parking lots being used to commit crime- RVIPF

- Notes upsurge in theft of license plates on Tortola
The public is being advised not to leave vehicles unlocked in especially public parking lots, since criminals are targeting these vehicles for use to commit crimes. Photo: VINO/File
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has indicated an upsurge in the theft of licence plates on Tortola. Photo: VINO/File
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has indicated an upsurge in the theft of licence plates on Tortola. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The public is being advised not to leave vehicles unlocked in especially public parking lots, since criminals are targeting these vehicles for use to commit crimes.

This is according to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Detective Chief Inspector Kenrick Davis.

“For many years, it had been common practice for persons to park rented cars with the keys left inside them. This practice occurs mainly near our seaports, such as Trellis Bay, Road Town Jetty, West End Jetty, and St Thomas Bay on Virgin Gorda.

“There is an emerging trend where criminals access these vehicles, use them to commit crimes, and then return them to these parking lots,” Mr Davis stated in an RVIPF press release on June 9, 2024.

Mr Davis said quite often legitimate users or owners are oblivious to the use of their vehicles in the commission of crimes.

Theft of license plates on the rise on Tortola

DCI Davis also indicated an upsurge in the theft of licence plates on Tortola.

He said some of these plates are used in the commission of crimes to thwart police investigations.

There have been a few instances where criminals have used mismatched licence plates on get-away vehicles, the RVIPF has stated.

Mr Davis advises that these emerging trends signal the need for residents to adjust their routines and practices to reduce the chance of becoming victims. For instance, residents and businesses should consider arrangements other than leaving keys inside their vehicles.

12 Responses to “Unlocked vehicles in public parking lots being used to commit crime- RVIPF”

  • rattie (11/06/2024, 11:52) Like (5) Dislike (23) Reply
    Police are a joke to much crime
  • Career (11/06/2024, 11:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    What's next
  • smh (11/06/2024, 12:27) Like (24) Dislike (4) Reply
    People are having people used vehicles with agreements. If you get caught I’ll report it stolen. If you get through we split the money. Don’t trust car rental companies especially when the owners are known criminals themselves.
    • facts! (11/06/2024, 16:35) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
      @smh! You hit the nail on the head! Investigate certain rental companies. We all know they are side businesses.
  • Real Macoy (11/06/2024, 14:41) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    So true my brother.
  • ... (11/06/2024, 16:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Everything is up.
  • @ SMH (11/06/2024, 16:34) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    THAT HSS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW THESE WANNABE HUSTLERS ARE CREATING WAY TO MANIPULATE PEOPLE IN MANY WAYS , SO SOME OF THESE RENTAL COMPANIES ARE USING THAT AS A FRONT FOR THEIR
    CLANDISTINE OPERATIONS / LIKE DRIVE BYS - MAKING HITS - THE NEXT THING THE POLICE GOT LOOK TO OUT FOR IS FAKE NUMBER PLATES ON SOME OF THOSE RENTALS / I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE , THESE WANNABE GANSTERS ARE GETTING MORE CREATIVE , EVERYTHING NTHAT GOES ON IN THE STATES AND IN ST THOMAS , THEY COPYING IT , AND IF A CRIMINAL IS SEEN IN A RENTIE , AND PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HIM TO TAKE HE OUT , IF THEY IS NOT AWARE THAT HE HAS ALREADY SWITCHED THAT ONE , FOR ANOTHER ONE AS THOSE CRIMINALS NORMALLY DO TO COVER THEIR TRACKS JUST IN CASE OR AS A PRECAUTION / AND IF THEY DO A DRIVE BY ON THAT RENTAL - WHOEVER RENT THAT SAME RENTAL COULD BE KILLED INNOCENTLY JUST BY RENTING A VEHICLE THAT A CRIMINAL WAS SEEN DRIVING EARLIER THAT DAY OR IN THE NIGHT ,.. AND THAT AIN'T NO JOKE , IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE / THESE GUYS ARE PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME



    ANYBODY WHO RENT THAT SAME
    RENTAL
  • 2024 (11/06/2024, 16:46) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Inspecter Davis you should consider having the Police Department doing more patrols because there is hardly any Law enforcement in the same parking lots you speak about

    One of the primary functions of Police Department is the Prevention of Crime. Your department thens to sit down until crime is committed

    It is funny in little BVI the Department have serious issues trying to detect criminals

    Move about the Various Villages more frequently rather than sitting back waiting the phone call from the public
  • HMMM (11/06/2024, 17:20) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    So what y’all going to do about James Todman sister that’s always in the videos going around
  • Native Senior Citizen of the British Virgin Islands (11/06/2024, 18:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You have said it right RVIPF. Some drivers some of the times even leave their car keys in the ignition key hole, vehicles running, exit their vehicles, go in stores to shop in the BVI. It is a customary habit, especially on the main Island of the BVI: Tortola.
    Do what is needful to do in regard to this problem and similar ones.
  • Anonymous (12/06/2024, 05:21) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    The police force is into public relations while crime and criminals rule


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