E Division records increase in robbery under arms, burglary

…decrease in other crimes

E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Commander Fazil Karimbaksh has lauded efforts by ranks and the working relationship with members of the community, in achieving several successes and reductions in serious crimes in 2017.
However, despite the recorded decrease in serious crime, there was an increase in robbery under arms and burglary. According to Karimbaksh, there was an increase in offences such as robbery under arms by 20 per cent and burglary by 33 per cent in 2017 so far when compared to the same period in 2016.

On Monday, the Divisional Commander presented the Division’s report in the presence of regional and policing officials at the Linmine Constabulary Hall in Linden. In delivering the crime and traffic statistics’ comparative figures for January 1-November 15, 2016 and January 1-November 15, 2017, Karimbaksh noted that there were major successes for 2017. For this year, he noted that there were only 50 reports of serious crime, as compared to 85 last year.
According to the statistics, there was a 41.1 per cent decrease in serious crimes in 2017 as compared to a 40 per cent decrease in 2016, signalling a 1.1 per cent decrease in 2017, compared to 2016. So far, the Division has recorded one murder, which was committed on Shenika Elliot London on May 19, at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden. The Commander praised the “hard work and dedication” of Police which saw the accused, Michael London, being arrested on the same day, following intense Police cordon-and-search operations in the backlands at Moblissa, Linden Highway.
There were six serious accidents in the Division so far for 2017, as compared to 12 around this time last year, a decline of 50 per cent. Overall, there was a 33.3 per cent decrease in traffic accidents.
Also for 2017, Karimbaksh said, 57 persons were arrested for trafficking of narcotics totalling 41 pounds. There were six robberies, and all were solved, with eight persons being prosecuted. He further highlighted that intelligence-led operations also resulted in the recapture of Kendall Skeet and Uree Varswyck (deceased) who had escaped from the Camp Street Prison.
Karimbaksh also reported that drug eradication exercises were conducted at Rockstone, Wisroc Back Road, Kwakwani, Linden Highway and the Coomacka Mines area resulting in over 15 acres of approximately 9130 cannabis plants being destroyed. Stop-and-search exercises, the Commander emphasised, were also conducted at the Mabura Police checkpoint, which resulted in the seizure of 200 grams of cocaine, 26.4 kilograms of cannabis, a .32 pistol and several rounds of matching ammunition. The Commander also indicated that four more anti-crime motorcycle patrols were introduced in the Division in 2017, along with two additional four-wheel vehicle patrols and a motor car traffic highway patrol along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway. (Utamu Belle)