Woman Charged with Murder in Trelawny

Detectives assigned to the Trelawny Police Division charged 33-year-old Tennisha Miller of Carey Park, Trelawny with the murder of 38-year-old Gregory Geddes of Reserve district in the parish committed on Tuesday, December 17.

Reports are that about 8:45 p.m., Geddes was at a bar when an argument developed between him and Miller. A knife was brought into play and was used to stab Geddes. The Police were summoned and Geddes was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Miller was later interviewed and subsequently charged.

Her court date will be announced at a later date.

Man Charged With Larceny of Motor Vehicle

Sixty-three-year-old Devon Phillips, trucker driver of New Roads district, Yallahs, St Thomas was charged with Larceny of Motor Vehicle on Wednesday, December 18.

Reports are that about 1:50 p.m., the accused stole the car from a car park in Kingston
on Saturday, November 2. He was subsequently held by the Police with the
complainant’s property and was charged following a question and answer session.

His court date will be announced at a later date.

Man Charged with Larceny of Motor Vehicle – Devon Phillips

Two Men Charged With Several Offences

Detectives from the St. Andrew Central Division charged two men with the offences of Robbery with Aggravation, Illegal  Possession of Firearm and Receiving Stolen Property on Saturday, December 14.

They are:

  • Trevenis Peynado, otherwise called ‘Buju’, 26-years-old, a vendor of  Last Street,
  • Orando Walker,  26-years-old, vendor of Bath Path, both in Kingston.

 Peynado and Walker, who were reportedly armed with firearms, are accused of robbing a complainant of a large sum of money and other properties on Molynes Road in the parish. They were subsequently picked up by the police later that day and were charged following a question and answer session.

Their court dates will be announced at a later date.

Police Seek Witness for Court

The Narcotics Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a Person of Interest in relation to an active investigation.

He is Jerome Jackson of a St. Mary address.

Jackson is being asked to report to the Area 2 Narcotics Police by 12:00 p.m., on Wednesday, December 26 as the detectives are of the view that he can assist in the investigations.

Meanwhile, anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jerome Jackson is being asked to contact the Area 2 Narcotics at 876-975-4779, Crime Stop at 311, the Police 119 emergency number or the nearest Police Station.

Download press release-Police seek public’s assistance- Jerome Jackson

Zico to Face Court for Murder

Thirty-year-old Tremaine Melford, otherwise called ‘Zico’, meter technician of 4 West, Greater Portmore in St. Catherine is scheduled to face the court to answer to the charge of murder committed in the parish on Friday, December 06.

Dead is 76-year-old Alphanso Bailey of the above-mentioned address.

Reports from the Portmore Police are that about 4:20 p.m., Bailey and Melford had a dispute when a knife was used to stab Bailey. On arrival of the Police, Bailey was assisted to the hospital where he died while undergoing treatment. Melford was subsequently charged however his court date will be announced at a later date.

Download press release:

Man to face court for Portmore murder-Tremaine Melford

Crime Prevention Tips for Businesses

  • Reduce cash held on the premises to a workable minimum.
  • Implement a system whereby excess cash is removed to a secure area.
  • Place emergency numbers where attendants can easily see them.

To reduce fraud:

  • Only accept cheques and credit cards when presented with an acceptable form of identification.
  • Accept credit cards only if signed at the back and with valid dates.
  • Hold the card and watch the customer sign the voucher or cheque.  Check and compare the signature on the card against the signature on the voucher or cheque.
  • Rub your thumb over the signature strip – the signature strip should be flush with the card and this allows you to detect whether the strip has been tampered with.

Transporting Cash:

Money in transit is vulnerable. When possible use a cash-transit company particularly for large sums of money.

If you choose to transport cash on your own, consider the following to reduce the risk of falling prey to criminals:

  • Assign more than one well-trained person to the task.
  • Company uniforms should not be worn but if they are, they should be covered by other clothing.
  • Avoid using public transport.
  • If using private transport keep the doors locked at all times.
  • Avoid quiet streets and vary the route and time of travel.
  • Do not advertise the fact that you are carrying cash.
  • Ensure the time of return is known so an alarm can be raised if necessary.
  • Be aware of drivers of vehicles or people behaving suspiciously.

Do not put yourself at risk – hand the money over if you are confronted.

Using an ATM? Here’s how to use it safely

  • If you must use an ATM, choose one that is located inside a mall, or in a well-lit location. Withdraw only the amount of cash you need.
  • Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.
  • If there is anything unusual about the cash machine discontinue the transaction and report your suspicions to the bank.
  • Do not enter ATMs with strangers.
  • Protect your PIN by shielding the ATM keypad from anyone who is standing near you. If you are at an ATM machine cover the pin with one hand while the other is used to press the keys.
  • Do not throw your ATM receipt away at the ATM location.
  • Keep your ATM card in a safe place and protect it just like you would cash, credit cards or cheques. Do not leave it around where others can see your card, whether at home or at work. If your card is missing or stolen notify your bank immediately.
  • Never give any information about your ATM card or PIN over the telephone.

Praedial Larceny Prevention Tips

As we seek to protect, serve and reassure members in the agricultural sector and generally the Jamaican society, we want to remind you that your safety begins with you. Here are some tips that may assist you to protect life, investments, and property:

Record Keeping

Create or update your current list of assets and personal items including vehicles, farm tools, and other implements, crop value and number of animals owned. It is important to keep a copy of this record for reporting purposes if the need arises. Record biodata for employees to include home address, next of kin, contact numbers, and location information for the purpose of creating a personal file for each person. Request recommendation letters from reputable individuals that speak to the character of farmworkers prior to employment. The request for police records during the vetting process for all potential employees is relevant. A log of all animals and their branding number, tattoo or tag number should also be kept for personal records. This information applies to both large and small farmers.

Creating Identity

 Ensure that special markings are placed on animals (branding, tattoo, tag) so that they can be identified easily in the event of theft. This will also serve as an accountability measure for farmers who conduct daily checks and balances of their stock.

Proper Lighting and Bushing

 Ensure that your premises are properly lit especially around the perimeter of farms and behind buildings. Trees or bushy areas need to be properly maintained to have clear visibility around the farm and reduce the possibility of persons lurking in or around your premises.

Fencing and Gates

Fencing defines property boundaries and restrict access to persons and animals that may trespass on your property. Make regular checks and inspections to validate the integrity of fences and gates so that the necessary repairs or improvements can be done. No trespassing and beware of dog signs can be helpful and assist in maintaining privacy and safety.

Alarm and Warning Systems

 Having a dog around your farm is a type of alarm as an early warning system can be effective and prevent farm theft. Where possible, it is encouraged that security cameras, video surveillance and other monitoring systems be utilized as this has proven to reduce and prevent incidents of farm theft. Detection devices such as motion sensors, tripwires, sensor lights, panic buttons, and cowbells are useful warning tools that can assist to protect life and property.

Build Meaningful Partnerships

 The Farm Watch Program encourages partnership at the community level with farmers, community members, the police and other stakeholders. This crime reduction/prevention strategy is useful as it helps members of the community to pool resources and be their neighbours keeper by giving an eye on their neighbours farm and property. Staying alert both night and day and identifying strange persons and vehicles can be the difference between life and death. Maintaining contact for your neighbors or community members can also serve well as we seek to alert persons as to what is happening around them. The number for your local Community Development Committee members, RADA, JAS, and other stakeholders can serve well as there is always strength in numbers.

Communication

 It is important to know and document the numbers for your local police station, 119 or 311 to report farm theft or any emergency. Don’t support it, report it.

PRAEDIAL LARCENY PREVENTION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS.

Stop.Think.Connect. Cyber Tips

The majority of cyber criminals do not discriminate; they target vulnerable computer systems regardless of whether they are part of a government agency, Fortune 500 company, small business, or belong to a home user. However, there are steps you can take to minimize your chances of an incident.

  • Set strong passwords, change them regularly, and don’t share them with anyone.
    • Do not include your name, your kids’ or pets’ names, or other well-known information about yourself in your password;
    • Avoid using common words in your passwords or passphrases. Instead, break up words with numbers and punctuation marks or symbols. For example, @ can replace the letter “A” and an exclamation point (!) can replace the letters “I” and “L”; and
    • Use a combination of upper and lower case letters.
  • Keep your operating system, browser, and other critical software optimized by installing updates.
  • Maintain an open dialogue with your friends, family, colleagues, and community about Internet safety.
  • Use privacy settings and limit the amount of personal information you post online.
  • Be cautious about offers online – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.