JamaicaEye helps curb car theft in Spanish Town

The police have significantly dented the incidence of motor vehicle thefts at shopping centres in Spanish Town, St Catherine, with the aid of the JamaicaEye closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system.

Sub-officer in charge of the JamaicaEye St Catherine Monitor Centre, Corporal Johnoy Forrest, says the technology has significantly bolstered law-enforcement efforts in detecting and preventing crimes in the area, adding that "people feel safe parking their vehicles at the plazas".

"We actually disrupted the car-stealing ring in Spanish Town and, since 2022, there is no vehicle reported stolen along the Sagicor Plaza, which was a main area for car theft. So you can see the benefit of having this technology," he said, while speaking during the Guanaboa Vale Police Social Action Day event last Friday.

He informed that since 2021, JamaicaEye has also aided police investigations into 447 criminal cases, which included the recovery of 30 stolen motor vehicles, and identifying persons wanted for various crimes. He indicated that extortionists are being tracked by the system, pointing out that some have been arrested and taken before the court.

The lawman further shared that during a recent disturbance in the town centre, where people used debris to block some roads, JamaicaEye was very useful in enabling the police to nab the perpetrators, and facilitating the deployment of security force personnel to various locations to quell the incident. Forrest, who encouraged residents to install the system at their homes and business establishments, said it is now equipped with motion-detection features, pointing out that once there is movement within the range of a camera's lens, "you will get a notification on your phone".

"Once you see something that is strange, you can communicate with the police. JamaicaEye is there for everyone. It helps to maintain and improve public safety, and by adopting this technology in your homes, you will always be aware of your surroundings and contribute [to safeguarding] not only yourself, but the wider community," he said.

The Ministry of National Security implemented JamaicaEye in 2018 as part of efforts to improve citizen security and public safety.