Burglaries, Home Invasions Shock STX Communities, Requests for 24/7 Patrols

A.J. Pike

St. Croix - The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) is alerting the community to a recent dramatic increase in burglaries at businesses, along with a rise in residential home invasions on St. Croix. The VIPD is urging the community to remain vigilant during this lawless spree and report any suspicious activity immediately. 

Besides for the rash of continual late night break-ins to businesses in the Christiansted Town area, the VIPD has now received reports of nine burglaries, all in one day, of incidents that occurred in the La Grand Princess area, along with another burglary in Frederiksted. These break-ins follow a series of burglaries at retail shops that occurred at businesses in the Frederiksted area in the last couple of months. In these recent incidents, suspects forced entry by breaking glass doors and windows at the businesses.

Even more shocking are the residential burglaries and an increase in home invasion robberies. 

The suspects responsible for these burglaries appear to be young individuals who conceal their identities by wearing dark clothing, hoodies, ski masks, face coverings, and other items to obscure their appearance. 

In the case of the home invasions, the suspects demand money and valuables before leaving the premises with personal property. 

While there have been no reported life-threatening injuries to victims during these home invasion incidents, offenders have reportedly restrained victims and stolen their phones and other electronic devices to delay calls for assistance. 

The Virgin Islands Police Department has increased patrol units in affected communities and continues to actively investigate these home invasion incidents.

But the continued requests from merchants in the Christiansted and Frederiksted areas for 24/7 VIPD patrols in these vulnerable tourist communities have, to this date, not been addressed or implemented.

The VIPD urges businesses to take the following steps to slow down or stop the onslaught of criminal activity against their retail establishments:

• Install and maintain high-quality surveillance camera systems covering entrances, exits, cash registers, storage rooms, and other areas where valuables are kept

• Ensure alarm systems are operational

• Report suspicious persons or vehicles immediately.