Teenage gangsters taking root in Spanish Town

The St Catherine North police said that a breakthrough has been made in the upsurge of crime by the newly formed Bed Bug criminal gang.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Linroy Edwards, the breakthrough resulted in the arrest of the alleged teenage leader of the gang and the charge of another.

"We have held the 16-year-old leader this afternoon and he is in custody and we are pursuing anti-gang investigation against him, while another member has been charged with breaches of the Firearms Act," Edwards said. He emphasised that the gang is a splinter group from the other senior gangs in the parish.

New gang

"It is shocking that the new gang comprised all teenagers of which we have held and processed 12, but the capture of these two is very important to bring back hope, peace and tranquillity to Spanish Town and its environs," Edwards continued. He said it will be an all-out lawful effort to bring back calm to the Old Capital.

He said that as the new operation head of the division, he would be enlisting, politicians, businesses, churches and the police to forge a unified team to work as stakeholders in the fight against criminal activities.

Edwards said bicycle patrols, foot patrols, covert and intelligence-driven operations have been intensified in the town especially in the market district. In recent weeks, criminals have robbed several persons of cash and kind and have even burgled businesses and other places of commerce.