Policemen on patrol in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, on Sunday during the passage of Hurricane Dean. Curfews were enforced in some commercial districts to discourage looting. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Amid the widespread devastation wreaked by Hurricane Dean on Sunday, crime raised its ugly head across the island as rival gangs traded gunfire and looters rampaged stores.

There were reports of shootings in the Corporate Area in the pitch black of night after the power company shut down its grid.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Mark Shields confirmed that there was sporadic gunfire in Mountain View and the Cling Cling area in Olympic Gardens, on Sunday night and Monday morning. There were also unconfirmed shootings in Rollington Town, Kingston.

DCP Shields confirmed reports of looting at a Digicel outlet and a Texaco service station in Annotto Bay, St. Mary, and Mussons on Spanish Town Road in St. Andrew.

Curfew in effect

Although a curfew is in effect for some commercial and industrial areas until 6:00 this evening, the police, last night, confirmed looting on Manchester Avenue and Glenmuir Road in Clarendon.

Thieves targeted a house at 10 William Place in Queensborough Gardens which lost its roof to Dean's powerful winds. The police, however, say they moved in quickly to restore normality.

There was also reported looting at car dealer GM Challenger on Molynes Road in St. Andrew and at the GraceKennedy canning section at 2 Twickenham Close on Spanish Town Road.

The Constabulary Communi-cation Network, however, could not confirm these reports this morning.

Despite the incidents, DSP Shields believes the police had the situation under control.

"Generally speaking, the policing was very effective and the response was excellent, as though there was looting, it was not wholesale."

The crime chief also urged Jamaicans to observe curfews and the state of emergency.

"People need to stay off the roads and allow the NWA (National Works Agency) and the NSWMA (National Solid Waste Management Authority) to clear the roads and do the work that is needed."

People who need police assistance, can call these numbers: