标签： Antigua and Barbuda

St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – July 2, 2026 – The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has issued an urgent advisory to local residents, calling for heightened awareness and proactive security measures after a pair of recently reported theft incidents targeting personal valuables including jewellery and mobile phones.

The first incident under active investigation is a residential burglary that took place in the Green Bay neighborhood just before midnight on Monday, June 29. Preliminary law enforcement findings outline that three unidentified males forced entry into a home occupied by a single woman. Before making their escape from the property, the suspects stole a range of personal items: multiple pieces of gold jewellery, silver chains, a mobile phone, a handbag, and a full jewellery box holding additional valuables.

A second, separate theft is also being probed by police. In this case, a Samsung Galaxy A22 smartphone – valued at around 650 Eastern Caribbean dollars – was stolen between 4:30 p.m. and 5:10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30, while its owner was in the Joseph Lane area of the island.

In an official media release published through the force’s Office of Strategic Communications, police administration emphasized a key observation: criminal actors routinely target high-value, portable items that are left easily accessible or unattended in both private and public spaces. To help residents reduce their risk of falling victim to similar thefts, law enforcement has outlined a series of practical security steps for the public to adopt:

First, homeowners should confirm all entry points including doors and windows are securely locked, particularly after dark and when no one is home. Second, properties should be outfitted with sufficient exterior lighting, and where feasible, security camera systems or intrusion alarms should be installed to deter intruders and aid investigations if a crime does occur. Third, the public is advised to avoid openly wearing or displaying expensive jewellery in public settings unless absolutely necessary. Fourth, mobile phones and other small valuables should be kept secured at all times, and never left unsupervised in public places. Fifth, residents should remain alert to their surroundings in crowded or public areas, and contact police immediately to report any unfamiliar individuals or activity that seems suspicious. Finally, law enforcement recommends that all residents record serial numbers and document unique identifying marks for all high-value personal items, a step that greatly improves the chance of recovery if property is stolen.

Investigations into both the Green Bay burglary and the Joseph Lane smartphone theft remain ongoing. Police are asking any member of the public who may have information related to either incident – regardless of how small it may seem – to come forward to assist the investigation. Tips can be submitted directly to the Royal Police Force’s Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913 or 462-3914, dropped off at the closest local police station, or submitted anonymously through the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477).

On the evening of July 1, a brazen daylight shooting sent two teenage boys to area hospitals, leaving one in life-threatening condition and triggering a manhunt for a lone suspect still at large, local law enforcement confirmed Wednesday.

First emergency dispatchers received calls about the shooting just after 5:30 p.m., with officers rushing to the Christian Street neighborhood in response to the active incident report. Preliminary law enforcement findings have outlined the sequence of events: the two young victims were out walking along Armstrong Road when an unidentified attacker stepped forward to confront them. The suspect, described by investigators as wearing all-black clothing with a covering concealing his face, opened fire immediately before running away from the scene on foot.

Emergency medical teams quickly transported both teenagers to local medical facilities for urgent care. The younger of the two victims, aged 16, suffered a gunshot wound to the chest that required immediate intervention. As of the latest police update, he remains hospitalized in critical condition, with medical teams monitoring his condition closely. The second victim, a 17-year-old, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to both of his legs. While his injuries require ongoing medical care, doctors have confirmed his condition is stable and not considered to be life-threatening.

Investigators have released a physical description of the suspect to aid public tips: the attacker is believed to stand roughly 5 feet 6 inches tall and has a slim build. The Criminal Investigations Department has taken the lead on the ongoing probe, and law enforcement is urging members of the local community with any relevant information – no matter how small it may seem – to come forward to assist the investigation.

Members of the public have multiple channels to share information: they can reach the Criminal Investigations Department directly at 462-3913 or 462-3914, submit an anonymous tip through the national Crimestoppers hotline at 800-TIPS (8477), or contact emergency services at 911 with any immediate details about the suspect or the shooting.

A devastating early morning fire has left a 2,000-square-foot building in Antigua and Barbuda completely destroyed, prompting local fire authorities to launch a public appeal for critical information to aid their investigation into the incident. The destructive blaze broke out along Old Parham Road, directly across from the popular M&M Service Station, in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday, igniting just after 1 a.m. local time. According to official statements from Antigua and Barbuda Fire Department Public Relations Officer Inspector Lester Bagot, emergency dispatchers at the St. John’s Fire Station received the first alert of the fire at 1:07 a.m., triggering an immediate coordinated response from three separate fire units across the country. Three fire tenders were deployed to the scene: Engine 19 from the St. John’s Fire Station, Engine 21 from the Coolidge Fire Station, and Engine 18 from the All Saints Fire Station, with crews rushing to reach the site as quickly as possible to contain the spread of flames. When first responders arrived at the location, they encountered a catastrophic scene: the entire 40-by-50-foot structure was already fully engulfed in intense, uncontrolled flames that threatened to spread to nearby properties. Without delay, firefighting crews launched an aggressive containment and extinguishing operation, relying on water carried by their responding tenders to douse the blaze and prevent it from spreading beyond the burning building. Even with the rapid, coordinated response from multiple fire crews, the fire advanced too quickly for teams to save the structure. By the time the flames were fully extinguished, the building and every piece of content inside it had been reduced to rubble. Bagot confirmed that the building was not occupied at the time of the fire, as it was actively undergoing structural repairs. Fortunately, no civilians or first responders were injured during the blaze or subsequent firefighting efforts. Now, as investigators begin the complex work of tracing the fire’s origin and determining its exact cause, the Antigua and Barbuda Fire Department is turning to members of the public for assistance. Authorities are asking anyone who was in the Old Parham Road area around the time of the fire, noticed any unusual or suspicious activity near the building, or holds any other details that could advance the investigation to reach out to either the Antigua and Barbuda Fire Department or local police. Every piece of information, no matter how small it may seem, could help investigators finally uncover what led to the destructive fire.

An urgent public appeal has been issued by the animal welfare non-profit Dogs and Cats of Antigua, asking community members to assist in locating a wounded stray dog thought to be hiding in the Bishopsgate Street district of St. John’s.

The organization first received a tip from a concerned local resident who alerted them to the dog’s poor condition, confirming that the animal is in critical need of immediate professional veterinary treatment. Over the past several days, dedicated volunteers from the group have carried out extensive targeted searches across the area, but all attempts to track down the injured canine have so far come up empty-handed.

To help speed up the rescue effort, both local residents and passing motorists are being reminded to share any sightings of the dog with the organization as soon as possible. Volunteers have also issued a key safety and handling note: members of the public should not attempt to chase or corner the animal, as this could frighten it, cause it to move further into hiding, or potentially lead to defensive aggression that puts people or the dog itself at greater risk.

Any individual who spots a stray dog matching the description or has information that could help pinpoint its location is encouraged to reach out to Dogs and Cats of Antigua immediately through its official communication channels or dedicated emergency contact hotlines. A rapid response, the organization notes, is critical to getting the dog the life-saving medical care it needs before its condition worsens.