Crime
Crime Wave just as bad as COVID wave, Residents demanding action
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, January 19, 2022 – “We need to take action against this crime immediately!” Was the call from one TCI resident over the weekend shared via social media and he is not alone. The consensus is that crime in the country seems out of control.
Residents are sharing their experiences and expressing frustration that no one official is facing the public during what is a doubly hard season; a spike in COVID which had the TCI inching ever so close to 1000 active cases and crime sprees where criminals are hitting multiple spots per night and there is a return of home invasions.
“Six armed men came here and robbed the store. They also robbed the Rooster Black next door and the Laundromat next door,” explained the man, a customer at one of the stores hit by a late afternoon heist on Saturday January 15.
The young man was making the comment to a cell phone camera, expressing his shock at the stream of crimes. That video was later shared and it spread like wildfire on the weekend.
Another resident voiced a friend’s harrowing experience in a social media voice note.
“Four guys [went] inside the house with masks and everything and the pointed guns at [her] mommy, her husband
and all the family. They took all the phones, the computers, everything.”
There is an air of fear as violent incidents, robberies and home invasions rise amidst weak communications from the Royal TCI Police Force.
The Force eventually confirmed there were at least five home invasions in the Turks and Caicos between Thursday January 13 and Friday January 14 alone.
So far two suspects have been arrested Lorenzo Caesar, aged 36, and Stevenson Morris, aged 46 have been charged with aggravated burglary in connection with at least one of the robberies on Thursday. A teen, only 17 years old was also held with a firearm and ammunition over the weekend, after reportedly “shooting up at the club”.
Still residents are not convinced of their safety and confidence in the Police is on shaky ground, yet again.
As residents grappled with the report of such a young gun crime perpetrator, there came word of two people being fired upon on Sunday in Five Cays. Both were rushed to hospital. There has been no statement on the alleged ambush from authorities; but it seems both survived the hail of bullets.
In another public opinion, it said most concerning was that more dangerous gun wielding criminals were not being apprehended. The individual noted on social media that cutlass and machete using criminals were the “least of [the TCI’s] concerns when gunmen were on the loose”
It has been nearly a month since Premier Washington Misick promised to address crime in the New Year and two weeks since his National Security Council (NSC) meeting which he promised would be followed by a statement on crime.
In the past month, there have been four murders, at least three shootings and numerous armed burglaries of businesses, homes and individuals.
As the list of incidents grows longer there is no guidance, condemnation for the brutal acts or general updates forthcoming from the NSC, Police, Governor or the elected Government.
#TurksandCaicos, April 15, 2024 – The recent aggravated robbery targeting a five-member household is undoubtedly distressing for both the victims and the community at large.
Superintendent (Division A) Willet Harvey said, “Around 11:21 pm yesterday (April 14th) evening, the Police Control Room received a report that four masked males, three of whom were armed, entered a residence at New Subdivision, Grand Turk, and proceeded to rob the occupants.
The armed suspects managed to flee the scene on foot and escaped.
“Following the report, officers were dispatched to the scene, conducted extensive searches and interviewed individuals. Based on the information received, we are actively pursuing several leads that will lead to arrests in the shortest possible time.
“The incident highlights the importance of remaining vigilant and proactively safeguarding homes and families. I advise people to enhance their home security by locking doors and windows when inside, investing in a CCTV system, and ensuring adequate outdoor lighting. Should you have any information on this burglary or illegal activities in Grand Turk, please call 946-2299. ”
The RTCIPF asks the public to notify the closest police station, contact 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, and anonymously give any information on illegal activity.
Additionally, persons are encouraged to download the CrimeStoppers P3 app and share information.
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TrinidadandTobago, April 15, 2024 – Heinous crimes continue to plague the Caribbean region, the latest the beheading of a four year old girl in Trinidad on Tuesday April 9, leaving a deep sense of shock and sadness over her town, Fifth Street, Five Rivers, Arouca in the East-West Corridor of Trinidad and Tobago.
The little girl whose life was severely cut short is identified as Amarah Lallitte and her killer is reportedly her step-father.
Reports are saying he killed her between 10 pm Monday and Midnight Tuesday. Her mother Tricia Villaruel, 41, who filed a domestic disturbance report, expressed deep grief and disbelief at the fact that the stepfather, 39, would hurt her.
Villaruel reports the events before her daughter was killed. She recalls the stepfather acting strange which she said is unlike him. She
expressed that he was acting like he was schizophrenic, as if “he was a different person, and different personalities were talking to me that night.”
She said she left to get help from the police out of fear that he would harm her and going she tried to bring Amarah, who she highlights wasn’t coming.
“but she not coming. She was laughing like she thought we were playing so I had no choice.”
Following the mother’s report to the police, they went back to the house to find it locked up and in darkness. The officers called for the stepfather who came out calm with no blood on him. Villaruel was then told to get her daughter. It was at this time that she was found dead by her mother who screamed at the sight of her daughter’s headless body.
Her head was reportedly stashed in a barrel at the back of the house and her body in another room.
At the sight of the decapitated four year old, some officers were moved to tears according to Richard Smith, Senior Superintendent of Police, in reports.
In fact he says they may need counseling from the Victim and Support Unit and they were deeply affected, as would any human being.
The suspect was arrested and taken to the station for questioning.
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