Two carjackings occurred on St. Croix within the last week, the V.I. Police Department reported.
On Aug 19, at about 12:39 a.m., a woman called 911 to report she was carjacked in the Peter’s Rest area while she and another woman were walking to their vehicles, according to the police report.
As she entered her white 4-door 2015 Honda Civic SI, bearing license plate CGV-797, a black vehicle, unknown make or model, rushed in front of her vehicle and two male suspects dressed in all black clothing exited and held her and the other female at gunpoint. One of the suspects demanded the keys to her vehicle, which she immediately provided. He then grabbed her purse and fled the scene in her vehicle towards El Sol Restaurant and the other suspect drove towards the Sion Farm traffic light, the police report stated.
A second carjacking occurred the very next day, on Aug. 20, around 12:55 a.m. A woman was present at the police station to report that she was carjacked in the Orange Grove area, the report stated.
The victim stated while getting into her vehicle, a 2018 gray 4-door Jeep Wrangler with a light bar on the hood, bearing license plate CHM-051, she observed a white heavily tinted Toyota Yaris with no plates that drove next to her vehicle. The suspect, who appeared to be a young male with a light complexion dressed in all black, came out of the passenger side armed with a black and brown handgun. The suspect approached her, pointing the gun at her and demanding her car keys, which she provided. He then grabbed her purse and fled the area. At the same time, the white Toyota Yaris drove away behind him, according to the report.
Women have been the victims of the most recent carjackings and are urged to be aware of their surroundings and to safeguard themselves. Should anyone find themselves a victim of a carjacking, get as much information on the suspect(s) and the vehicle that they appeared in. This can assist officers in the recovery of the vehicle and apprehension of the suspect(s), it said.
Chief Detective of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, St. Croix District, Lieutenant Naomi Joseph, advised vehicle owners to remove the tinted plastic shields on license plates. “It hinders us from being able to read your plate in the event your vehicle was stolen.” She also urged vehicle owners to install both license plates on their vehicles. “This goes a long way in allowing us to do what we are supposed to do,” she said.
These crimes are being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Anyone who may have information on these crimes or any other crimes is encouraged to call 911 or Crime Stoppers V.I. at 1(800)222-TIPS.
