Residents complain of no police response

CONTINUOUS attacks by burglars on residents of Sapphire Drive in Diamond Vale, and the lack of police response to their complaints caused one resident to take matters into his own hands on Thursday. George Cato, a retired TTEC worker, complained to Newsday about numerous burglaries at his home. Cato, who has been living in the area for almost 33 years, attempted to make a citizen’s arrest just before a Newsday team arrived at his home on Thursday. He said he was on his porch when he saw a man peeping through his neighbour’s gate. After recognising the man as the persons suspected of carrying out several burglaries in the area, Cato confronted him. “He had a bag in his hand so I asked him to let me see what was in it,” he explained. “The man just break away and start to run, but I managed to hold him down before shouting to the neighbours to call the police since the station is five minutes away,” he said.

Cato said he expected the officers to arrive on the scene and arrest the man while he had him in his grip, but they never came. “That wicked man drag me to the edge of a river, managed to free himself and jump into the water leaving his bag behind,” the angry retiree stated. Cato believes thieves are using the river as an escape route with stolen items since several pieces of clothing were seen on its banks. Almost in tears and covered in mud from being dragged, Cato expressed frustration at the lack of action from the officers. “Imagine you will tell me that a police station is right around the corner and not one officer came to assist us. If they did not have a vehicle they could have walked because the station is just minutes away; that is so sad.” Cato, whose home has been burglarised on numerous occasions said in one incident, the thieves used a pickaxe to break into his house and stole his entire coin collection, as well as chairs from his gallery.

Another resident, an 84-year old woman, said she has been robbed of jewelry, clothing, pots and money. She said she lodged several reports  at the police station, but received no assistance from the officers. Due to the lack of police response, she has now “given up” on reporting other incidents. “Whenever I hear them rummaging through my things in the back I just hide because I am so afraid,” she said “I am an old person. I can’t fight off no burglar, but how long can they just come in here and steal my things; just now I will have nothing. I am tired of living in a home that is like a prison to me.” Another Sapphire Drive resident complained: “The officers only respond quickly when someone is murdered or kidnapped.” She is appealing to Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs to intervene before a fatal incident occurs.