A major criminal investigation into a high-value commercial break-in in Antigua and Barbuda has concluded with an arrest and formal charges, according to an official media statement released Sunday, September 13, 2026 by the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda’s Office of Strategic Communications (STRATCOM).
Thirty-year-old Marcus Gilpin, a resident of Old Parham Road in St. John’s, stands accused of breaking and entering into the local retail outlet Sunny Limited on Long Street, an incident that unfolded between the evening of August 10 and the morning of August 11 this year. Investigators allege that during the break-in, Gilpin stole an extensive haul of merchandise and business property, totaling tens of thousands of Eastern Caribbean dollars in value.
The full list of stolen goods includes 25 pairs of sneakers, 50 assorted clothing items, 5 hard-shell suitcases, 40 portable speakers, 50 school bags, 36 pairs of socks, 25 pairs of denim shorts, 50 pairs of full-length jeans, 30 pairs of adult slippers, 15 pairs of children’s slippers, 10 travel bags, 20 solar-powered lights, plus a range of additional goods including men’s underwear, portable radios, a fully sized washing machine, a household refrigerator, a point-of-sale card processing machine, children’s hygiene products, and two digital video recorder (DVR) surveillance systems. Beyond the stolen property, authorities say the suspect intentionally damaged the business’s main external camera network, a system that carried an estimated value of EC$50,000.
When combining the total worth of stolen goods and damaged infrastructure, the overall loss suffered by Sunny Limited amounts to roughly EC$103,201 — equivalent to approximately 38,000 U.S. dollars.
Following the completion of investigative work, Gilpin has been taken into formal police custody and charged with two criminal offenses: breaking and entering with intent to steal, and malicious damage to property. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance before a local magistrate on Monday, September 14, where he will formally answer to the charges against him.
In the wake of the arrest, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has renewed its call for ongoing public partnership in combating local crime. Authorities are urging both business owners and private citizens across the country to remain vigilant, report any unusual or suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately, and share any information that could support active criminal investigations.
The police administration also issued a public note of gratitude, acknowledging the consistent cooperation and support Antigua and Barbuda residents have provided to police efforts to reduce crime and keep local communities safe.