Teen remanded in custody for suspected burglary

(CNS): A 16-year-old boy who appeared before Youth Court on Friday, 27 February, charged with one count of burglary has been remanded in custody by the court. The charge relates to a break-in that occurred at a house in Boggy Sands Road, West Bay, on 17 February, which involved the theft of a lap-top, digital camera and cell phone. Detectives arrested the boy and recovered the stolen items.

“Thankfully, burglary is quite rare in West Bay,” said Area Commander Chief Inspector Angelique Howell. “But that does not mean we can be complacent. We often see homes left unattended with windows and doors open – this is an open invitation to opportunist criminals. We need to make sure our property is secure at all times.”

The RCIPS is offering the following tips and advice to residents and visitors to the
Cayman Islands:

General Security:
• Ensure doors and windows are kept locked and secure – even if you are just popping out for a few minutes.
• Sliding doors are often a popular method of entry – inserting a piece of wood or something similar into the gap to prevent the door from sliding back should the lock be broken can help discourage potential burglars from targeting your home.
• Do not leave a spare key hidden under a mat or plant pot.
• Make sure keys are kept out of reach of windows and doors.
• Look out for your neighbours – if you notice something suspicious call the police.

Don’t tempt burglars:
• Keep valuable items out of view.
• Make sure gardening equipment is secure and not left lying around.
• Let them know you have taken precautions – if you have an alarm put the box or sticker on show and if you have a dog display a warning sign.

Holiday security:
• If you are going away ask a friend or neighbour to keep an eye on your property and ask them to open and close curtains or put lights on to make your house look lived in.
• If you are leaving your car at the airport – ask a neighbour to park in your space occasionally.

Security Equipment:
• Take a look around your home and imagine you are a burglar. Look for security weak points.
• Fit locks to windows and doors – if they are easily visible they may deter some thieves.
• Consider fitting an alarm.
• Mark your goods with your PO Box so that if they are stolen and recovered they can be easily identified as belonging to you.

Anyone with information about crime taking place in West Bay should contact the police station on 949-3999 or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling Crime Stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.