The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force Criminal Investigations Department has reported a significant increase in the number of non-residential burglaries on Tortola since the beginning of the year, compared to the same period last year.
Acting Chief Inspector Kendolph Bobb, head of the department, said that this increase has been significantly influenced by incidents at businesses, storage facilities, and construction sites, where valuable tools and machinery are often kept.
In response to these concerning trends, residents are advised to mark their tools for easy identification. Individuals are also advised to record serial numbers, photograph, and securely store items. Business and residential owners are also encouraged to ensure that their property is properly secured, and surroundings are well-lit and consider installing alarms and CCTV cameras.
Persons with information on any crime are encouraged to confidentially call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-8477 (TIPS) or, if located overseas, at 1-284-800-8477.