By Angelo Laurence, Gleaner WriterMANDEVILLE, Manchester:
THE RAGING winds and heavy rain Wednesday night during the passage of hurricane Charley, did not stop thieves from breaking into several shops and homes in the Waltham area of Mandeville.
According to the Mandeville police these criminals acts were the works of at least two men who braved the harsh weather to help themselves to appliances, food items, a stand-by generator, two bicycles from two shops, and a vendor's stall.
Calvin Williams, 38, of TP Albion tried to make good his escape when residents converged on his home but was chased and caught. A search of his house revealed bags of the stolen food items, two televisions and a stereo unit which were immediately identified by their owners along with numerous other items believed to be stolen. A red mask believed to have been used to disguise his identity during the robberies was also recovered from Williams home.
Detective Donovan Bell of the Mandeville CIB, who made the arrest, is also seeking a second man in the incident and is asking anyone who suffered recent loss of appliances to check with his office. Detective Bell had high praises for the residents who he said conducted themselves in a manner which is an example for other communities.
He said they apprehended the suspect and turned him over to the police for the law to take its course. In another case, Detective Bell, after what is said to be diligent investigation, also recovered a large air compressor valued over one hundred thousand dollars which was stolen from Reliable Printers.
Williams, who is charged with larceny and shop breaking, is scheduled to go to court on Wednesday August 18.
