- Robbery, stabbing at Half-Way Tree hub
Three weeks since the Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre opened, reports of robbery and vandalism have already surfaced.
Police have confirmed that there has been a case of robbery and a stabbing incident that has already taken place at the facility.
Last Thursday, a 14-year-old student was reportedly robbed of his lunch money by knife wielding boys while he made his way to school some time after 6 a.m.
The police also reported a stabbing incident between two high school students which left one hospitalised.
Though efforts to contact the centre's manager, Victor Green were unsuccessful, employees also claimed that students have already defaced walls and other areas of the facility and have even damaged bathrooms.
"Di people dem love wah di park a do fi dem but yu know dem seh anyweh too much people deh is just a matter of time before tings start go wrong," a janitor told THE STAR. "Di place jus open and dem start mark up di wall dem and a mash up all di things dem inna di bathroom."
THE STAR team visited the centre yesterday but the graffiti had already been removed.
Deputy Superintendent Mcarthur Sutherland, Crime Chief for the St. Andrew Central Division told THE STAR the police have already embarked on a mission to prevent the occurrence of robberies, not only at the transport centre, but in the surrounding area.
DSP Sutherland said the police will be utilising "visible arrests" to prevent any further flare up of undesired incidents.
"We have taken a zero tolerance approach to even the simplest of crimes, so we will be handcuffing criminals right there in the streets for everyone to see so they serve as an example to others," he said.
He also noted that plain clothes police officers have been placed on the streets to help in the fight against criminal activity .
"We have packed the place with plain clothed officers, even inspectors," he said.
Three weeks since the Half-Way Tree Transportation Centre opened, reports of robbery and vandalism have already surfaced.
Police have confirmed that there has been a case of robbery and a stabbing incident that has already taken place at the facility.
Last Thursday, a 14-year-old student was reportedly robbed of his lunch money by knife wielding boys while he made his way to school some time after 6 a.m.
The police also reported a stabbing incident between two high school students which left one hospitalised.
Though efforts to contact the centre's manager, Victor Green were unsuccessful, employees also claimed that students have already defaced walls and other areas of the facility and have even damaged bathrooms.
"Di people dem love wah di park a do fi dem but yu know dem seh anyweh too much people deh is just a matter of time before tings start go wrong," a janitor told THE STAR. "Di place jus open and dem start mark up di wall dem and a mash up all di things dem inna di bathroom."
THE STAR team visited the centre yesterday but the graffiti had already been removed.
Deputy Superintendent Mcarthur Sutherland, Crime Chief for the St. Andrew Central Division told THE STAR the police have already embarked on a mission to prevent the occurrence of robberies, not only at the transport centre, but in the surrounding area.
DSP Sutherland said the police will be utilising "visible arrests" to prevent any further flare up of undesired incidents.
"We have taken a zero tolerance approach to even the simplest of crimes, so we will be handcuffing criminals right there in the streets for everyone to see so they serve as an example to others," he said.
He also noted that plain clothes police officers have been placed on the streets to help in the fight against criminal activity .
"We have packed the place with plain clothed officers, even inspectors," he said.
Comment