Michael McLean, Gleaner Writer

Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth:

Following a spate of robberies and break-ins in Santa Cruz over the past two weeks, the police and the business community have come together in partnership to deal with the upsurge of crime.

Last Thursday, more than 60 individuals gathered at the Sharon Baptist Church Hall in Santa Cruz to share with the police strategies on how to deal with the increase of crime in the small, but fast-growing town.

Inspector Paul Bernard, in charge of operations at the Santa Cruz Police Station, is vowing to get the crime rate in the town to near zero levels and said it can only be achieved with cooperation from the business sector and citizens.

"We need to come together in partnership and rid the town of the criminals," he said.