Following reports of armed robberies of spring breakers in the St Alban’s Drive area over the past several weeks, police on Sunday issued a stern warning to persons engaged in any illegal activities in the area.
On Sunday, Police Press Liaison Officer Chief Superintendent Hulan Hanna assured the visiting college students that The Bahamas is still a “very safe” place to visit.
The St Alban’s Drive area, located off West Bay Street, is said to be a popular venue for the breakers.
“We want to assure them that The Bahamas is still a very safe place to visit, and that is demonstrated in the fact that just Thursday we were able to make some arrests in that area for firearms and drugs, and then we were able to go back in that area where we took a high-powered weapon,” Hanna said.
“Sometimes these things slip through the cracks and persons are still able to get in there and do some things and move out of the area quickly, but we police that area intentionally and deliberately during the spring break period to ensure that the thousands of youngsters that are coming to our shores are safe,” he advised.
“Covert and overt” police operations have resulted in a number of persons being arrested for drug possession, vagrancy and other offences, Hanna said.
Tech-9 recovered
Late Friday night, he noted, police retrieved from bushes in the area a Tech-9 (a type of assault pistol, similar to that said to have been used in the Columbine school massacre in the United States), believed to be have been dumped by persons who had just committed an armed robbery in the area.
“We will continue to sustain our efforts in those areas. And so while we are concerned about what is going on we want to allay the fears of any visitor or potential visitor that the area is still a safe one in which to come to and to enjoy their holiday season,” Hanna reiterated.
Operation 10K
Due to “a disturbing increase” in the number of armed robberies occurring at weekends, Hanna said, police have implement several initiatives, including Operation 10K, that was launched a few weeks ago, resulting so far in some 60 persons being arrested for various offences.
Hanna advised members of the public, however, particularly the business community, that while the police will do what they have to do, they must take precautions of their own.
“In the first instance we are asking members of the public to be extremely cautious and vigilant as they move about when coming home in the evening hours. If they approach home or their destination and things seems to be out of place, and they feel uncomfortable, we are advising them to go to the nearest police station where a police escort can come to the area and ensure that they are inside safely before leaving,” he said.
He noted that in the case of business persons, the police are making a similar appeal. “The ones who operate in isolated areas of New Providence, and who close at odd hours, we are asking them to be extremely cautious when moving monies and closing, and to ensure that if anything appears to be out of place – if persons are lurking around, vehicles are driving slowly, unknown cars are parked nearby – to call the police at 919 and bring it to the attention of the Duty Officer so that help can be sent to the area to kind of offset the likelihood of any possible robberies,” he rationalized.
With regard to Operation 10 K, Chief Supt. Hanna said, the initiative is going quite well as officers continue to go into the communities, albeit in smaller numbers, and arrest persons for being in possession of dangerous drugs; persons wanted on warrants, and persons who are in possession of firearms and contrabands.
“We have not had the dramatic arrest like the 60 persons several weeks ago, but we feel satisfied with the methodical approach that we have taken and the significant persons that we are taking of the streets. One only needs to look at what we are putting before the courts to have a full appreciation of the fact that it is really working what we are doing in those communities,” he said.
Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
