Law enforcement officials in Antigua and Barbuda are calling on local residents to boost their personal safety awareness and adopt extra protective measures after a spike in jewelry snatchings targeting unsuspecting community members. The official public warning was issued by the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Office of Strategic Communications on Saturday, May 30, 2026, one day after two distinct armed-free robbery cases were logged by the force’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
The first incident unfolded just after 1:00 p.m. on Friday along Campbell Road in the Ottos neighborhood. According to official reports, a female victim was out walking when an unidentified male suspect approached her abruptly, seized her wrist, and ripped off two gold wristbands estimated to be worth a combined 4,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars. The attacker immediately fled the scene on foot. Investigators have released a description of the suspect: he is light-skinned, has a slim frame, and was wearing a black hat at the time of the robbery.
Roughly two hours later, a second jewelry theft took place in the Sutherlands area. In this case, a male victim had just stepped out of his residence and was walking toward his parked car when two unknown male suspects stole a 14-karat gold chain valued at around 5,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars from his neck before running away. Investigators have shared detailed descriptions for both suspects in this case. The first is approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, brown-skinned, of medium build, and has short, low-cut hair. The second stands around 5 feet 7 inches, has a dark complexion, weighs roughly 170 pounds, and was dressed in a black T-shirt and multicolored shorts at the time of the incident.
Beyond urging everyday residents to stay alert, the police force has issued a targeted advisory for local business owners that handle precious metals. Store operators and managers at jewelry outlets, pawn shops, and other precious metal buying and selling enterprises are told to maintain a high state of vigilance for any attempted sales of potentially stolen gold. They are instructed to vet all transactions for gold jewelry carefully and contact law enforcement immediately if any suspicious activity is flagged.
For members of the public who own valuable jewelry, the police offered a series of practical safety tips: avoid wearing high-value pieces in crowded public areas when possible, keep constant awareness of people and movement around you, refrain from openly displaying expensive jewelry unnecessarily, and contact emergency services right away if any unusual or suspicious behavior is observed.
Law enforcement is asking any resident who may have information relevant to either of the two active investigations to come forward with details. Tips can be submitted directly to the CID at 462-3913 or 462-3914, sent anonymously via the Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477), or reported through a direct call to 911 emergency services. In closing the official advisory, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s administration expressed gratitude for the ongoing public cooperation and support that helps the force fight crime and hold offenders accountable under the law.