Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE AREA One police have positively identified three of the four thugs killed in last week's failed robbery in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, as major players in a St. James-based criminal gang that has been plaguing western Jamaica.
"Our intelligence had revealed that the spate of recent robberies was being done by a group of boys from right here in St. James," said Superintendent John Morris, the Area One crime chief. "While we did not know their identities, we were fully aware of what they were doing."
The three St. James men, who along with an unidentified crony, were killed by policemen and militant residents after a mid-morning robbery attempt at the Super Plus store in Whitehouse failed, have been identified as Paul 'Tech' Bent, of Green Pond; and Franklyn Hawkins and Leighton Eccleston of Salt Spring.
"The killing of these men should result in a significant reduction in robberies across the region," continued Superintendent Morris, speaking against the background of the spate of robberies which has been sweeping
Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James and Trelawny. "We will also be sharing some information with our colleagues in Area Three to see if these boys were also operating in those parishes as well."
In explaining how the robbers operate and the reasons why they had proven so elusive, Superintendent Morris said they generally use stolen cars, which are usually ditched following a robbery. However, he said the police were able to keep track of them because of the pattern of the robberies.
In the Whitehouse robbery bid, which played out like a scene from a western movie, the robbers first shot up a police vehicle and then proceeded to engage the lawmen in a fierce shoot-out. In the end, two of the robbers were hacked to death by residents while the police killed the other two.
During the approximately 45 minute-long drama, three Super Plus workers were shot and injured during the gun battle. The police recovered four illegal firearms from the scene.
