Police on St. Thomas are investigating a trio of crimes – two first-degree robberies and a third-degree burglary – that have occurred in the last three weeks, according to the V.I. Police Department.
Police said Gems and Gold Corner was burglarized; Nidal Grocery was robbed; and two women were robbed in Frenchtown. No one was injured during the three crimes.
Police said at least two suspects used an unknown tool to drill into the wall of Gems and Gold Corner jewelry store to gain entry. Police were notified of the break-in just after 3 a.m. May 21. The store managers told police they secured their business and went home. They said they needed to conduct an inventory to determine what was taken. Police are reviewing surveillance tapes in the area.
Nidal Grocery owners said two masked men, one carrying a handgun, walked into the store just after 8 p.m. Saturday and took an undisclosed amount of money from the cash register, a black wallet and a black Samsung mobile phone.
There were two people inside the store and the suspects told them to get on the ground and then fled the store on foot in an unknown direction.
At about 12:30 p.m. Saturday police were dispatched to Frenchtown, where two female victims said they had been sitting outside when they were approached by a man who snatched a handbag from one of the women and fled the area on foot.
Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau are investigating these cases. Detectives urged anyone with information to call them at 1-340-714-9834 or 1-340-715-5522, or call the 911 emergency dispatcher or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477. Information can also be sent by text by sending “USVI” plus the message to CRIMES, or 274637.
