Police Alert Public to Rise in Jewelry Snatching Reports

ROYAL POLICE FORCE OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Office of Strategic Communications (STRATCOM)

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POLICE URGE RESIDENTS TO GUARD AGAINST JEWELRY SNATCHERS

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Saturday, May 30, 2026

The police are urging residents to remain vigilant and take extra precautions following a number of recent reports involving the theft of jewelry from unsuspecting members of the public.

The warning comes amid two separate incidents reported to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Friday, May 29, 2026, in which victims were targeted and robbed of valuable gold jewelry.

In the first incident, a woman reported that she was walking along Campbell Road, Ottos, around 1:00 p.m. when an unknown male approached her, grabbed her hand, and forcibly removed two gold wristbands valued at approximately EC$4,000 before fleeing the area on foot. The suspect was described as light in complexion, slimly built, and wearing a black hat.

In a separate incident that occurred around 3:00 p.m. in Sutherlands, a man reported that he had just exited his home and was walking toward his vehicle when two unknown males allegedly snatched a 14-karat gold chain valued at approximately EC$5,000 from around his neck before escaping on foot.

One suspect was described as approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, brown in complexion, medium-built, with low-cut hair. The second suspect was described as approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, dark in complexion, weighing about 170 pounds, and wearing a black T-shirt and multi-coloured shorts.

Members of the public are encouraged to exercise caution when wearing valuable jewelry in public spaces and to remain aware of their surroundings at all times. Individuals are also advised to avoid displaying expensive items unnecessarily and to report any suspicious activity immediately.

The police are further appealing to owners and operators of jewelry stores, pawn shops, and other businesses involved in the buying and selling of precious metals to remain on high alert. They are encouraged to carefully scrutinize transactions involving gold jewelry and to report any suspicious attempts to sell or pawn such items to the police without delay.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigations is urged to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913/14, call the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477), or dial 911.

The Police Administration thanks the public for its continued cooperation and support in helping to combat crime and bring offenders to justice.

END

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