Car thefts trending again in Old Harbour

It’s a worrying trend for DSP Damion Manderson, who is the commander in charge of the Old Harbour zone for St Catherine South Police Division.

The last two reported cases were logged at the Old Harbour Police Station yesterday and last Saturday.

Late yesterday evening one motorist parked his Subaru Impreza at the front area of the Juici Plaza parking lot. But when he returned the space was empty.

This also followed on the heels of Saturday’s theft when a Mitsubishi motor car was stolen from the parking area of Courts Old Harbour.

Speaking with Old Harbour News, DSP Manderson said after a long lull in reported incidents of such nature, the police have received more than five such reports in the last three weeks.

He said one man is in custody in connection with one of the stolen vehicles but his identity cannot be released at this time as investigators are trying to unravel what they surmise to be a very complex car stealing racket trending again.

Manderson said there seems to be no particular interest in any specific model of vehicles targeted by these criminals. Likewise geography doesn’t matter, as vehicles have been reported stolen from gated and non-gated residential communities and also from commercial spaces within Old Harbour.

While reassuring persons that the police are doing everything to crack this re-emerging trend, Old Harbour’s chief police officer is urging owners to be extra vigilant.

“These persons tend to come into your community and scope it out first and then they return and steal your vehicle. So take note of any strange vehicles you see driving around in your community, write down the license plate number, make sure around the house is well lit at nights and install cameras,” Manderson said. “Car alarms can be useful, but a tracker is even better.”