CCTV leads to arrest and charge of three teens in Stony Hill robbery cases

Three teenage boys have been arrested and charged by the police in connection with separate robbery incidents in Stony Hill, St Andrew.

The boys—one 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds—are charged with housebreaking, larceny, and malicious destruction of property.

They are currently being housed at the Metcalfe Street Juvenile Remand Centre.

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that the two 16-year-olds were held in relation to a break-in and robbery at a house in Rocky Valley, Stony Hill, on Friday, February 6.

According to police reports, the complainant returned home and noticed a strong scent of cigarette smoke inside her bedroom.

Checks revealed that a kitchen security camera had been displaced and destroyed, eggshells were found in a pot, and several rooms, including her daughter’s bedroom, were ransacked.

A wardrobe was also forced open.

Items reported stolen included a laptop, security cameras, and cash.

The matter was reported to the Stony Hill police.

The police indicated that a review of the home’s CCTV system revealed the presence of the two 16-year-olds inside the dwelling.

They were subsequently arrested, cautioned, and interviewed in the presence of their parents or guardians before being charged.

The police further reported that enquiries and caution statements from the teenagers led investigators to uncover their alleged involvement in an earlier robbery on January 28.

That break-in involved a three-bedroom apartment from which several items were allegedly stolen, including approximately 200 Viagra pills, pairs of shoes, underwear, watches, and food items.

According to the police, the stolen items are valued at approximately $270,000.

The two 16-year-olds, who were already in custody, were charged with housebreaking, larceny, and malicious destruction of property. A 15-year-old boy, said to be an accomplice in the January housebreaking, was also arrested and charged.

Meanwhile, Crime Officer for the St Andrew North Police Division, Deputy Superintendent Glendale Murdock, noted that CCTV footage played a critical role in advancing the investigation.

“It was from the CCTV footage that the police were able to establish the suspects, and once the suspects were interviewed, it led the police to another break-in which had not been reported. As a result, the police reached out to the complainant, recorded a statement, and were able to bring closure to that matter as well.”

He reiterated the importance of surveillance systems and urged residents to report criminal incidents promptly, noting that timely reports significantly assist police investigations.

As at February 7, the St Andrew North Police Division recorded three robberies and three break-ins.

This represents a 63 per cent decline in robberies and an 81 per cent reduction in break-ins year on year.

- Andre Williams

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