Police: Be fully Informed before issuing voice notes
Published:Thursday | March 29, 2018 | 12:00 AMJodi-Ann Gilpin
A voice note circulating, informing persons that criminals have been posing as police personnel and robbing citizens in the Ziadie Gardens community in Kingston, might have in fact been referencing a legitimate operation.
The voice note, which was sent out on March 22, detailed that there was a new trend where persons clad in vests and looking like policemen were pretending to be searching for drugs.
Acting Superintendent of Police Dahlia Garrick, who heads the Corporate Communications Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, told The Gleaner, however, that to date, the police have not received any reports of robbery.
“On the 21st of March, an operation was carried out in the Ziadie Gardens area. The operation included marked and unmarked police service vehicles," Garrick said.
"The intended target was not located as, on entering the premises, there was no answer. No access was gained to the house as no one responded. It was a legitimate operation. However it somewhat differs from what was accounted for in the voice note.”
Added Garrick: “I don’t know if it is a case where the robbery took place after but, even if that’s the case, the police have not received any reports of any robbery taking place. From all the checks we have made, no one has received any report.”
She cautioned citizens to be fully informed and ensure that they know the facts before circulating clips.
“We have heard and know of persons posing as cab drivers and other forms of robberies but it’s really the first time I am hearing of this scenario. Cases of robbery are usually when persons are not home,” she said.
However the resident of Ziadie Gardens, whose home was allegedly burglarised, claims the incident did occur, saying he lost three flat screen television, eight watches, and a Mac book, among other household equipment.
“The police came to my house, actually looking for a tenant that used to live here. The police came back, stayed for about five minutes, and then they left because they realised that no one was here. After they left, apparently somebody came on the premises and raided the house. They came back looking for the same person and we explained that the person don’t live here anymore,” said the resident, who did not wish to for his name to be disclosed.