Police have stayed tight-lipped about the details of a robbery last week at the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park, where armed men stormed the House of Luxury jewellery store on Dec. 2 before escaping by speedboat from a nearby dock.
Police said in a statement the day after the incident that they had recovered the boat in Kingstown and “brought in” four people for questioning, but since then they have not said whether or not anyone has been charged.
They also have not disclosed the quantity of jewellery taken or any descriptions of suspects — or even named the store involved.
“Investigators are pursuing a number of important leads,” interim Police Commissioner Richard Ullger said in a short video statement posted on Facebook on Dec. 4.
Mr. Ullger, who was appointed on Nov. 19, added that increased patrols of the pier park and wider Road Town area were being implemented, and he reassured the public that their safety is “the highest priority.”
“We are committed to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable,” he added.
Security measures
Tortola Pier Park Ltd. and the National Security Council also released statements the day after the robbery.
They strongly condemned the crime and assured the public that enhanced crime prevention measures would be implemented — but without providing details.
“For security reasons, these specifics will not be publicly disclosed at this time,” TPPL stated. “However, we reassure tenants, visitors and partners that additional precautions are already in effect and are aligned with best practices for high-traffic commercial and port environments.”
Neither statement disclosed how the robbers were able to breach pier park security, which officials previously said they beefed up after the same store was robbed at gunpoint in July 2023.
2023 robbery
During the 2023 robbery, nearly $300,000 worth of jewellery was stolen but never reported recovered even though police have charged three men in connection with the crime.
In order to boost safety after the 2023 robbery, a security audit was carried out at the behest of the government.
Recommended security measures were to include electronic gating systems, increased security presence, and enhancements to the park’s CCTV system, Communications and Works Minister Kye Rymer said at the time.
Tight-lipped
TPPL CEO Vance Lewis declined to comment outside of the TPPL statement, saying the ongoing investigation is a police matter.
Police Information Officer Akia Thomas-Nero did not respond to a request for comment.