Kingston man held in Manchester after burglary in Old Harbour

Charged with shop breaking and larceny is 26-year-old Dondre Blake, said to be a businessman of Bond Street, Kingston.

His first court appearance is slated for March 22, 2022 at the St Catherine Parish Court in Old Harbour.

Investigators are hopeful that the arrest of Blake represents a small, yet important step to thwart a thriving gaming machine ring uncovered in Old Harbour. Since August 1, 2021 to March 5, 2022 the police said 52 gaming boxes were stolen, estimated at $26 million in total.

• $26 million gaming racket in Old Harbour

Blake was first accosted by cops about 6:10 am on March 9, 2022 after he was held at Whitney Turn, Porus inside a motor vehicle reportedly involved in a robbery in Four Paths, Clarendon hours earlier. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of parts from gaming machines which were later identified as belonging to a bar that was broken into about 4:00 am on the same day in Old Harbour Glades, Old Harbour.

Acting on intelligence, two police officers on mobile patrol intercepted a Nissan AD Wagon that aptly fit the description of the vehicle allegedly used to carry out a robbery in central Clarendon.

Three men, including the driver, alighted from the vehicle and fled. One of the police officers gave chase but the men managed to escape.

Blake, who sat in the vehicle’s front passenger seat, was detained and subsequently interviewed by detectives from Old Harbour. After investigations he was charged in Old Harbour with shop breaking and larceny.