Police in Anguilla are investigating a possible case of organised crime in which an Algerian national, with a French passport, was arrested at Sandy Ground. He was later charged with being equipped to steal money from an ATM machine. The Algerian appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, March 5. He was remanded in custody until April 10.
The Police said that some US$4,000 was confiscated from the man. Two other males, who were with him, evaded capture and left for St Martin before their identity was known. The Police have not ruled out the possibility that the two may have been able to make off with an unknown sum of money from the ATM machine raid.
The three men were seen allegedly acting suspiciously on Sunday, March 2, about 1.00 pm, while travelling in a vehicle in the South Hill area. One of them was in fact seen coming from an ATM machine, according to the Police.
This is the third time that foreigners attacked ATM machines in Anguilla, the other two cases having involved Bulgarian nationals.
“This is a true example of organised crime,” Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor, told reporters. “This is organised crime at its best. “Some of these people have dual nationality – born in one place and carry a passport for another. They are using that to come to these islands and perpetrate their crimes.” As I said, “this is a true example of organised crime,” he reiterated.
Mr Proctor, who was careful not to reveal the source of information, said the Police had received a report from an informant about the men who were allegedly acting suspiciously. He stated that the Police always maintained that public support and timely information were a critical element in crime detection leading to the arrest, charging and prosecution of offenders.
