Six persons from Port Maria, St. Mary, have been arrested by police following the looting of the Courts furniture store in the town on Friday.

The store had been ransacked by several persons after heavy rains Thursday night flooded sections of the town.

Those arrested are to appear before the Port Maria Resident Magistrate's Court this Thursday.

Charged for office breaking, larceny and receiving stolen property are 18-year-old Oniel Melbourne; Carol Higgins, 43; Joseph Robinson, 29; Mark Gocan, 23; Dennis Jackson, 48; and Beverly Jackson, 47.

The arrests were made during searches conducted in the parish by police, beginning about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. The residents were charged after stolen items from Courts were found in their homes.

Police have been patrolling the town since the looting to maintain security while a clean-up operation has been ongoing with residents assisting authorities with rehabilitating homes, public buildings and businesses which were all affected by the flood waters.