BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – QUICK response by officers of the Sandy Point Police Station has led to the arrest and conviction of a juvenile who, on Tuesday (Jun. 23), had stolen a handbag and its contents from a female tourist while she was jogging in that town.
According to a police communiqué, the incident occurred sometime after 2:00 p.m. and had involved one Jessica Pate of the United States of America, who had earlier arrived on the day in question in St. Kitts aboard a vessel named Ocean Star which was docked at Sandy Point.
The communiqué stated that following a report of the robbery, officers of the Sandy Point Police Station swiftly responded and initial investigations revealed that while the tourist was running along Fig Tree Long Path, the juvenile walked up behind her and pulled her green and brown handbag that was attached to her wrist and ran away with it.
He was reportedly wearing a navy blue mask that totally covered his face.
With the assistance of members of the public, further investigations led to the arrest of the juvenile, who was charged with larceny from the person.
He was taken to court, where he pleaded guilty to the offence and was placed on probation for a period of 12 months in the sum of EC$2 000 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
The Police High Command commended the public-spirited citizens who assisted the investigators in making the arrest and is urging the general public to emulate them.
“The High Command of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force takes this opportunity on behalf of the entire Force to extend thanks and appreciation to those civic minded persons for their assistance and cooperation in the investigation of this case. Also, to encourage everyone to emulate these individuals in assisting and cooperating with the police in their investigations, and the reduction crime and fear of crime in our beautiful Federation.”
This is not the first incident in which a tourist was robbed in the Sandy Point area.
On November 14, 2010, 17 cruise ship passengers (including a baby) aboard a coaster tour bus were robbed of an undisclosed sum of money, jewellery, cellular phones and other personal items while on their way to visit the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park.
This incident had made headline news internationally and had also affected the tourism sector, as a number of scheduled cruise ships had postponed their visit to the Federation.
However, following intense investigations, the perpetrators were quickly arrested, charged and jailed.
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