051/2018
Basseterre, St. Kitts, January 27, 2018 – Escalating crime reached a new level in St. Kitts and Nevis when a passenger from one of two visiting cruise ships was injured during the cross fire of two warring youth gangs on Friday.
According to reports on social media, the passenger “was hit in the head with a bottle as she was walking in the Liverpool area of downtown Basseterre, a few feet away from Port Zante.”
“Her sunshades were cracked and she also received a blow to her index finger on the right hand,” according to Buckiegotit.
“This is not something I like to broadcast, but it is a reality,” said the social media guru.
The gang fight, which involved juveniles, was reportedly between rival gangs from Shadwell and McKnight.
Police statistics show a double digit increases in crime in 2017 over the previous year.
Police said crime increased 60 percent in 2016 over 2015 and a further 12 percent increase in 2017 over 2016.
There were 242 breakings in 2015, 415 in 2016 and 407 in 2017.
There were 216 reports of larcenies in 2015, 390 in 2016 and 414 in 2017.
There were 65 reported robberies in 2015, 57 in 2016 and 81 in 2017.
Police statistics also indicate increases in possession, importation and smuggling of firearms. There were 30 reports in 2015, 34 in 2016 and 38 in 2017.
Possession, trafficking and importation of drugs also increased with 204 offences in 2015; 283 in 2016 and 395 in 2017.
Double digit increases were also registered in malicious damage to property with 86 reports in 2015; 169 in 2016 and 213 in 2017.
There were 1050 reported crimes in 2015; 1665 in 2016 and 1868 in 2017.
*This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKN PULSE. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical errors within press releases and (or) commentaries. The views contained within are not necessarily those of SKN PULSE.
