April 12, 2002 – Police tracking a rash of unsolved burglaries in the Calquohoun area in the last year say they are pursuing strong leads that they hope will lead to arrests. Meanwhile, they are urging residents to get involved in active neighborhood crime-watch activities.
On Monday, five Little Fountain and Canaan Ridge residents reported break-ins between 3 and 7 p.m. Police said descriptions from residents of suspicious individuals driving around their neighborhood fit similar reports that have come from the Calquohoun community.
Deputy Police Chief Angel Santos said one Little Fountain resident reported that he left his home on Monday morning to run an errand and that, upon returning along a shrubbery-lined road, he passed a group of males exiting a bushy area.
Santos said another burglary victim called him at home in the evening apprehensive about waiting for police officers who were nearby investigating another burglary report. Leads are being developed within the three communities, Santos said, with reports indicating juveniles and adults are involved.
When he visited the Calquohoun community on Tuesday, Santos said, he found encroaching trees and shrubbery offering plenty of hiding places for lurking would-be intruders. Tall trees around the homes "need to be trimmed and maintained at a certain height," he said. "Residents should cut back the surrounding brush."
Santos said the police Criminal Investigation Unit has been keeping track of the times of day that burglaries have been reported within an area. "If we basically know who the players are, you want to follow them and see what they do, tie up all the loose ends," he said.
A map with the burglary sites plotted shows an increased concentration of reports in the wide area since last December. Santos said a couple of his staff members reside in the Calquohoun area, and one of them was a break-in victim.
Santos said the Criminal Investigation Unit is working closely with the Attorney General's Office to ensure that evidence is gathered properly. "We are doing a lot of pre-trial conferences," he said. "There are a lot of technicalities when it comes to the law."
In a Wednesday evening telephone conversation, 15-year resident Denyce Singleton said she was unfamiliar with and startled to learn about the burglaries in her area. "I'm surprised that my neighbors didn't call me," she said. A neighborhood association once was active but dwindled away with a turnover in residents, she said, adding that there appeared to be a need to reactivate the group.
Little Fountain resident David Strong, whose parents have owned a home there since 1969, said one problem is that, "unfortunately, there are not enough street lights." Little Fountain was once a haven for nature lovers seeking solitude. Strong, like Singleton, said he had not been aware of the burglaries in the area.
Calquohoun, Little Fountain and Canaan Ridge fall within the Wilbur Francis Command Zone in Frederiksted. Capt. Melbourne Adams, who is in charge of the command, said he has not received any calls from residents of the burglarized communities but that he is available to assist in organizing community crime watch programs.
Adams advised residents: "Once you scan and see a suspicious vehicle, write down the color, make and license plate number and contact us." Also, he added, a description of the driver is helpful.
Santos said his officers, too, are encouraging residents to form neighborhood watch groups. "They will be the eyes and ears; we will facilitate it for them," he said. For assistance in organizing a group, call Adams at 772-2800.

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