Nine houses in Estate Carolina and Estate Hansen Bay were burglarized between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday. Many of the houses were ransacked, food was taken and eaten, and sinks plugged up with the water left running to flood the houses.
Estate Carolina is near Coral Bay. Estate Hansen Bay is on the island’s East End.
Deputy Chief Darren Foy said in a press release Friday that based on the information gathered at the crime scenes he has reason to believe that one person is responsible for these break-ins.
"This suspect is sending some type of message either against the Police Department or residents in the area," Foy said Friday.
Police Department spokesman Melody Rames said Friday she couldn’t comment further because the matter was under investigation. "No one’s been arrested," she said.
According to the police reports, the suspect entered the homes through unlocked doors, by prying open a window or by removing louvers and then unlocking doors.
Some homeowners reported nothing was stolen from them while other reported that passports, birth certificates, jewelry and electronics were taken from the homes.
Foy said forensic evidence was collected at the crime scenes and sent for comparison. Patrols have been increased in the area and the community is urged to be watchful for suspicious individuals.
As word spread Thursday about the burglaries, the Coral Bay Community Council sprang into action. The organization sent out a notice to all its members urging them to keep an eye out for strangers in the neighborhoods.
The notice reminded residents to watch for people and vehicles that seem suspicious. It urged people to smile and make contact with people they see in their neighborhoods so those people know they’ve been seen.
Anyone with information should call the Cruz Bay Police Station at 693-8880 or the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 715-5522, 715- 5516 or 714-9834. Citizens can also call Crime Stoppers in the Virgin Islands at 1-800-222-8477.
