The sound of crashing surf did little to ease the minds of vacationers in five cottages which were hit by a thief last week at Cinnamon Bay Campground.
The brazen crimes occurred sometime between 9:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. in the 8,9 and 10 cottage units just steps away from Cinnamon’s white sand beach. V.I. National Park law enforcement rangers and V.I. Police Department officers both responded to the incident and are collaborating on the investigation.
“Both VIPD and VINP responded, took reports and surveyed the area,” said VINP law enforcement ranger Tom Schaff.
The perpetrator got away with more than $1,000 in cash which was lifted from five cabins, Schaff explained.
“Five cabins in total were broken into and the perpetrator took cash only,” he said. “There was probably about $1,500 taken in total. There were no credit cards or any personal belongings taken.”
“No one was harmed or had a run-in with the perpetrator — everyone had stepped away from their cabins at some point,” Schaff said. “Two of the cabins were occupied and they weren’t touched.”
This is the first incident at the Cinnamon Bay Campground cottages since management installed lattice over most of the screens, explained Schaff.
“This is the first time something like this has happened in a while,” said the VINP law enforcement ranger. “The management has taken safety precautions.”
Safety is management’s number one priority at Cinnamon Bay Camps, according to Patrick Kidd, director of marketing for Caneel Bay Resort and Cinnamon Bay Campground.
“What happened is terrible,” said Kidd. “Security, particularly at the campground, is a number one priority. We do take every precaution at the campground to ensure safety, both personal safety and safety of belongings.”
VIPD and VINP officials have been leading an active investigation into the burglaries, Kidd added.
“Between the VINP and the police department, there is a lot going on at the moment,” he said.
Anyone with information should call the VINP’s law enforcement division at 693-8201.