By Claudia Liburd
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com
(Charlestown, Nevis) --- In the wee hours between Sunday night and Monday morning culprits broke into the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union (NCCU) with intent to rob.
NCCU General Manager, Sydney Newton described the circumstances surrounding the attempted robbery in a brief interview with SKNVibes.com.
“The culprits forced entry sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning through one of the back doors but of course they had to pass a number of layers of security. They tried to get into the vaults using a welding torch. The heat from that would have caught the documents in the vault a fire however only documents in the vault were burnt. They also damaged the door which they entered, the security system and the communication telephone line”, said Newton.
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Attempted Break-in at Credit Union in Nevis |
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By this time smoke from the vault was beginning to escape through the building passersby would have begun to sense that things were amiss opined Newton. The authorities were alerted and the culprits hurriedly escaped leaving behind their gas tanks, welding devices as well other tools.
Mr. Newton continued, “This was not a fly by night operation, it was a premeditated as I am sure that they came and looked around beforehand. No one would walk around with 100 lbs of oxygen and other gas tanks. The tank which they used for welding is a big heavy tank. Someone had to have dropped them off at the site but then I think that they escaped on foot as they left everything in the building.”
In the wake of the attempted robbery Mr. Newton responded to questions of beefing up security measures by noting the competence of their current security system while alluding to an internal breach in the privately monitored security system. ~~Adz:Right~~
“I do believe that we have one of the best security systems in Nevis. I do not think that there is much more that we can do. The system that we have is very good and there is not much more that we can do to keep people out. Anybody who is going to carry out an operation like that with the tools and equipment to do what they want to do.
“The system needs to work, the people who monitor the system need to chip in and play their part. It is not a one person operation; it is a network of people who need to play a part to make things work. If the people who monitor do not deliver there will be a complete failure in the system. Reports need to be followed up. My conclusion is every action should have brought a reaction. You touch something and someone should register and make a physical check and but all of that did not happen.”
Last Monday the St. Kitts, Nevis Anguilla National Bank was broken into using similar measures such as the blow torch to break into the building. Many persons feel as though the crimes were linked however Mr. Newton explained his feelings on this matter.
“At first I thought that both cases are linked but now I think otherwise and I have my own suspects in mind now. It was a very similar operation and there is talk that it was gang from St. Kitts but I am leaving the case to the police
“People often say that when something like this happens executioners are careless and they feel that there is money involved but that is not often so. Our members can be assured that everything is safe and sound and we will continue to do business on their behalf”, said Mr. Sydney Newton Manager of the Nevis Co-operative Credit Union in closing.
