ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – Head of the St Elizabeth police, Superintendent Coleridge Minto, has sought to give bar operators some level of reassurance even as he urged citizens to continue sharing information that may lead to the apprehension of suspects who have targeted bars in the south central parish in recent weeks.

Against the backdrop of an OBSERVER ONLINE article on Tuesday, which pointed out concerns of a bar operator complaining that bars were under siege in St Elizabeth, police have increased patrols in areas targeted by robbers.

READ: Bar operators in St Elizabeth irate over increase in robberies

Minto told justices of the peace at a function recently, that there was a spate of armed robberies in the parish.

“In this quiet parish of St Elizabeth we have men driving around with high powered rifles. We had three robberies [recently in one week]. Three men with rifles and another with a handgun robbing business establishments at night,” he said.

“We want our citizens to get involved and to share any information that you have that can help us,” he added.

Minto told OBSERVER ONLINE on Friday, that the police are closing in on robbery suspects.

“The Pedro Plains police responded to a telephone call regarding a break-in in progress at a bar situated along the Williamsfield main road on Sunday about 4:35 am. On arrival at the scene, checks were made and two men were seen in the process of mounting a red motorcycle. On the approach of the police, they ran leaving behind a suitcase stocked with assorted liquor and other items valued at $80,720, one Bluesonik monitor box valued at $30,000.00 and $960 in cash,” he explained.

He said the motorcycle was also seized.

– Kasey Williams