According to talk show host Doug Wheatley, with the recent spate of armed robberies in the Virgin Islands and with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) not being able to close in on the perpetrators, the big question on many minds is ‘Who is next?’ Photo: VINO/File

Police Commissioner Michael Matthews is under pressure to clamp down on the gun crimes affecting the territory. Photo: VINO/File

The proprietor of Huntums Ghut Service Station (right) was robbed of cash by two masked gunmen while in Huntums Ghut on December 12, 2016 while Delta Petroleum Service Station in Pasea Estate was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash on December 15, 2016. Photo: VINO/Internet Source

This is according to talk show host Doug Wheatley, who was speaking on the 3D Show on ZBVI 780 AM on Friday, December 16, 2016.

Mr Wheatley highlighted some of the criminal activities carried out, including robberies on two gas stations and two shopping establishments.

“And the question on everybody’s minds is who is next. Who is next? I guess since two gas stations have been robbed the gas stations will be on the alert. Two supermarkets have been robbed so I guess supermarkets will be on the alert…but whether or not that will deter the persons from committing those acts, we don’t know, we will have to see…”

According to Mr Wheatley, the police have their hands full, however, the support of the community is also important.

Their [police] work is cut out for them to see if they can close in on the persons who are committing these crimes…and of course the police have to do some amount of work but also we as citizens of the territory if we see something say something, if we observe something make a note of it and so forth.”

“Because it is our territory and we have a right to see that everything goes well here. On the front lines we have the police…but we as citizens can assist in whatever way we can….We don’t want to hear that when we get up tomorrow there is another robbery or another shooting or something like that. We hope and pray not.

Spate of armed robberies/gun violence

It was on November 17, 2016 when 24 year old Estevan Jefferson was gunned down near the Stickett in Long Look.

Then on November 24, 2016 heavily armed men pounced on Riteway East End, carting off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

On December 1, 2016 a car was riddled with bullets at Havers Estate. No one was injured in that incident.

The following day, December 2, 2016, a male showed up at the East End Police Station with a gunshot wound following a robbery at Vanterpool Estate.

Police also reported that on Saturday evening, December 10, 2016 around 9:00 P.M. a female reported that she was walking in the Vanterpool Estate area when a masked gunman approached her and demanded her handbag that contained her laptop, personal documents and cash.

And then two criminal offenses where a gun was involved reportedly occurred on December 12, 2016.

In the first instance, David Springette aka Mooney was shot while in the Long Look area. That same night the proprietor of Huntums Ghut Service Station was robbed of cash by two masked gunmen while in Huntums Ghut.

A double armed robbery then occurred on December 15, 2016, firstly on Delta Service Station in Pasea Estate, which was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash around 3:00 A.M. by a gunman who gained entry to the cashier's section by shooting at the glass door.

That same evening Billy’s Superette in Long Bush was also robbed by a lone gunman.