The St Andrew North police believe they have in their custody four men whom they suspect to be part of a criminal gang which has the community of Hughenden, St Andrew, under plunder.

The situation has forced the cops to pull out all stops in an effort to restore normality.

This they say is the result of a rise in cases of break-ins, robberies, and even cases of sexual assault.

According to the police, there have been at least 15 cases of robbery within the last two weeks, in addition to at least 10 cases of break-ins.

There is also at least three cases of sexual assault within the same period.

According to acting crime chief for the division, Deputy Superintendent Altermoth Campbell, the police will be working relentlessly as they try to hinder the activities of a gang whom they are blaming for the rise in crime within the community.

In that effort, the police carried out a predawn operation in the community recently. During the operation, four men whom the police suspect to be part of the gang were held. An illegal firearm and one stick of dynamite was also reportedly seized.

Firearms seized

The firearm, an UZI sub-machine gun, along with 20 round of ammunition for an M-16 rifle, was found at a premises in the community.

The four detained men were not charged with the gun seizure. Their identities are being withheld pending further investigations.

"These men will face a series of identification parades in relation to a number of crimes committed in the Hughenden area," DSP Campbell told THE STAR before noting that the men are alleged to also be involved in criminal acts in other sections of the division, such as in New Haven.

"The police will continue their crack down of these criminal gangs in the division," DSP Campbell vowed.