Car thieves target Transport Authority customers

A St Andrew businessman whose bus was stolen in the Maxfield Avenue area of St Andrew after he parked it outside the offices of the Transport Authority said that his company has suffered a major setback as a result of the loss.

The vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus, was stolen last month while the man was transacting business relating to his road licences at the regulatory entity.

"There's a car theft ring going on in the Richmond Park area. When my worker went to the police station (Half-Way Tree) to report it he said the officer told him 'Bwoy, yah bout di sixth one that come this week already'," the man told THE STAR.

A plan of action

Senior Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, told THE STAR that there have been four reports of motor vehicles being stolen in the area since the start of the year.

"A plan of action is being crafted in tandem with management at Transport Authority to mitigate this," Nesbeth said.

The Transport Authority's communications manager, Petra-Kene Williams, said that secured parking is provided for customers but some people have opted to park by the side of the road.

"We have parking facilities on Maxfield Avenue, just two doors away from our office, with a security guard posted there for the duration of the opening hours and when the vehicles are there. Some have refused to use the parking lot and opt to park on the public road. The authority could not take responsibility for that at all," she said.

However, the businessman argued that the parking facilities provided by the Transport Authority are insufficient.

"It forces people to park on the outside and they don't have a roving security to ensure the safety of vehicles," he said.