The Editor, Sir:

I have had an office in the Half-Way Tree area for a half-a-century. During these 50 years the location has been pleasant and peaceful. However, our little company has now suffered two robberies in the last six months - the latest being Saturday, February 9, 2008. Three men, armed with handguns and driving a silver-grey Nissan motor vehicle entered our offices, held the employees at gunpoint and tied them up.

They took cash, cellphones and wallets from the employees, the day's cash receipts and two desktop and one laptop computers. The loss of the computers is crippling as all our accounts, business data, and the like are contained in them. Response to the call to 119 was slow, and we have found this to be so on several occasions.

Aerial surveillance

The two-man police team arrived in about 30 minutes and they were followed by the Crime Scene Unit which took fingerprints, photos, et cetera.

It seems to me the only way to apprehend these criminals is to employ aerial surveillance - if the getaway vehicle can be traced to a location where the police can confront them crime may be much less attractive. Helicopters not only for the JDF, but for the police force.

I am, etc.,

GEORGE P. LECHLER, PE

CEO

Engineering Sales Co. Ltd.

27 Eastwood Park Road

Kingston 10