By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterA RENOVATED open lot on Slipe Pen Road in Kingston, which is now being used as a car park for persons visiting the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH), has become a haven for criminals.
At least two cars have been broken into over the past seven weeks and more than $100,000 stolen from these vehicles.
Deputy Superintendent Delroy Hewitt of the Kingston West Division told The Gleaner on the weekend that on February 19 a car was broken into at the KPH car park and $17,000 stolen,
There are also reports that during January another car was broken into and $100,000 removed from the vehicle. Reports are that following these incidents, several men have been observed roving the car park daily.
"Motorists should not leave any valuables in their vehicles or anything on the seats that may prompt them to break into the vehicle," said Superintendent Hewitt.
Apart from the incidents at the car park, the police said that there have been a series of robberies within the environs of the KPH car park. Buses and pedestrians are being robbed, shops have been broken into and armed men are sometimes seen roaming the nearby streets.
Persons visiting the hospital are directed to park their vehicles at the car park and then walk across the road to the hospital. The limited parking on the hospital's compound is usually reserved for members of staff.
While the police are probing the reports, the Denham Town Police have received information that one of the suspects involved in the case of the $100,000 have since fled the island to the United Kingdom.
The Denham Town police believe that the perpetrators are from the nearby community of Hannah Town. The lawmen said they have had to question several of them in related cases since January.
Deputy Superintendent Hewitt said the police have increased their patrols in the area. It is understood that at least two persons have been jailed in connection with some of the robberies in the area.
Since the start of the year there have more than 350 reported cases of robberies across the island.
