Car stealing ring uncovered in Friendship, St. Catherine

 

Detectives in the St. Catherine North Police Division are investigating what they believe is a major stolen vehicle operation with possibile links to an island-wide criminal network. 

 

According to police reports, sometime after 8:30 a.m. Friday, the lawmen raided a premises in Friendship, off St. John's Road in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, where three people were taken into custody for questioning. 

 

Senior Superintendent Hopton Nicholson, who heads the division, said officers, acting on intelligence, searched the location and recovered a stolen Toyota Axio motorcar. 

 

He said the vehicle was stolen in Manchester about 1:00 a.m. Friday, before being taken to the location in Friendship. 

 

"We believe that this particular location is used by a car stealing syndicate as a part of their illegal operation. We use this opportunity to implore the general citizenry to be alert, to secure your property, to include your vehicle, as best as practicable; that you park in well-lit areas, you install monitoring devices such as trackers, you use legitimate personnel to conduct repair on your cars - personnel such as mechanics, body repairmen, auto-electricians, tyre repairmen, and also that you report suspicious activities in your various communities are your place of business," he urged.

 

He said the thieves had already started to dismantle the motorcar, removing several components, including lights, fenders and bumpers before police arrived at the location. 

 

A number of parts for various motor vehicles were found at the scene. 

 

Investigators suspect that the individuals operating from the premises may be part of a wider motor vehicle stealing syndicate with operations spanning multiple parishes.