A fresh wave of concern is sweeping parts of Kingston and St Andrew as criminals continue to target money transfer outlets in a string of break-ins that are raising alarm among residents and business owners.
The latest incident unfolded near Heroes Circle in Kingston, where robbers broke into a Western Union branch sometime between Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Crime scene investigators have since been combing the area for clues as they work to piece together how the crime unfolded.
Just two weeks prior, a Western Union outlet located in Rock Hall, St Andrew, was hit in a similar fashion. In that case, reports indicated the robbers shattered the glass door to gain access and stole approximately $5 million.
A resident who spoke with the Jamaica Gleaner said, “I got a call minutes to 7 this morning that someone turned up and found the place was broken into, so it must have been overnight because they are not open that early.”
That outlet, situated on the grounds of a gas station, had to temporarily halt operations following the robbery and was reported to reopen once investigators complete their assessment of the scene.
A report from the Jamaica Gleaner detailed that the St Andrew North Police Division, where the Rock Hall outlet is located, has been grappling with a surge in similar crimes. Break-ins in the division have spiked by 200 per cent, with 75 cases recorded so far this year, a stark rise from the 25 cases reported during the same period in 2023.
Islandwide, robberies and break-ins have also seen a worrying increase. According to reports, as of August 2, robberies are up by 11 per cent, while break-ins have surged by 24 per cent year-on-year. While there is a recurring pattern of theft at Western Union branches, it is currently unclear if the branches are being targeted by the same criminals.
