Business Operators in St. John’s Demand Increased Security After String of Pre-Dawn Break-Ins
Business operators in St. John’s City are expressing deep concern and frustration following a series of pre-dawn break-ins that occurred on Thursday.
The recent incidents have heightened fears about safety and security, with many business owners calling for immediate action to prevent further crimes.
Local proprietors are unanimous in their call for enhanced police presence and surveillance in and around the city. They argue that without a visible and active law enforcement presence, their businesses—and their personal safety—are at risk.
“These robberies are happening in broad daylight, and it’s really concerning for us,” said one business owner who preferred to remain anonymous.
“We’re asking the government to take more precautionary measures, like increasing police patrols in St. John’s, especially during closing hours. It would give us a greater sense of security.”
Another local business owner, described the growing unease among both business operators and customers. She noted that walking the streets of St. John’s has become increasingly uncomfortable, with many constantly looking over their shoulders. The situation has compelled her to invest in additional security measures.
“We’ve installed more security cameras, which is, of course, an extra cost for us,” she explained. “We’ve also hired security personnel to patrol the area. It’s all for the safety of our customers and ourselves.”
Some business operators, speaking off-camera, suggested even more drastic measures, such as military patrols in business districts and a mandatory installation of surveillance cameras by all businesses. They also called on the government to ensure that every street in the city is equipped with functional surveillance systems to help identify perpetrators and deter future crimes.
“It’s overwhelming,” said one operator, who expressed frustration with the current state of security in St. John’s. “We can’t take any more. We need more police presence, we need cameras, and we need the existing cameras on the streets to be activated. This would help us feel safer and more confident to conduct our business.”
The operators of Print Express, a local business that has been targeted twice in the past year, echoed these concerns. They, like others in the area, are making a desperate plea to authorities to address the escalating crime situation.
As the situation continues to develop, the business community in St. John’s is hoping that their calls for enhanced security will be heard and acted upon by local authorities.
Until then, many remain on high alert, taking whatever measures they can to protect their livelihoods.
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As much as I understand the frustration of the business community in St. John’s, I believe that there will never be enough police officers to protect every business in St. John’s or across the country. The very fact of pulling police officers from another station to help patrol the St. John business district will expose those areas to targeted vulnerability. I believe that the time has come for every business in St. John’s to invest in its own surveillance camera system. Yes the police can help and do would the defense force but the business community should play its part too. The entire country is deserving of police protection not just St. John’s. Government must do its part but the business community must do its part too. Blessings Enough
@Blessings Enough – with all due respect we think you’re missing the point. Antigua right now is on a state of emergency mode. The business community is not calling government to enhance activity because of their businesses alone, but also because of their customers and employees who are Antiguan citizens that need to go out and shop for their needs and earn a living. Cameras and private security people will not stop the level and constant robberies and life- treating situations now present in Antigua. Furthermore, if you do a research you will find out that many businesses have invested from long time ago in security for their locations and so on, but all that have not stopped what is happening in the country right now. No amount of cameras and security persons (that also fear for their lives) are going to detain or solve the actual crisis never seen before in this scale; which is why we are calling it a “crisis”. When there is a crisis affecting all sectors of a nation (which includes all human beings – citizens and visitors); authorities and national security and law enforcement agencies have to be present, step-up and take over big time; the sooner the better! Thank you for reading ☮️💟 in 🇦🇬
pay for surveillance are you cheap r*ss!! you bring in things that you get concessions off of at the Port, mark them up high for resale and a paying staff minimum wage so you can more than afford it…
All the businesses needs to do is when they get the donation letters for police week just refuse to give a red cent until you all get what you asking for. More police patrol at night especially in the wee hours of the morning. Point to note: not all police officers enjoys the donations the business community have been giving. Some of the donations are privatized!
I am afraid to go to the small supermarket or those food place because I dnt want to end up been rob or killed I avoid those small food place or Mimi supermarket as much as possible lot a police sitting at other station where there’s nothing to do some of them can go to town n patrol an around other areas too patrol the village too day an night what’s happening calls for emergency
if police won’t do that it best mi go buy a illigal gun an walk with police nearly pull over woman an search them so it best mi go buy a gun because I won’t let nobody pull me over in my car an rob me I struggle in life for everything I own I sleep on people floor for weeks till I was living at the stop stop an going my friend house to shower sooo ain’t nobody go tske what I have now after me struggle so
Having seen the multitude of damaged police pickups at the police HQ, it needs to be asked, what do they use them for?
When do you see any proper organised police patrols-anywhere.