The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda (RPFAB) has increased patrols around schools following multiple reports of suspicious tinted vehicles in the St John’s area, Acting Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers confirmed in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.
“What I know basically, it’s in the city St John’s. It’s mostly between others comprehensive,” said Jeffers, referring to the areas where suspicious vehicles have been spotted. … The vehicles are basically Vitz or Fit.”
While several reports have been documented, Jeffers noted that not all incidents have proven credible. “One or two of them has been proven false when they were checked against the cameras,” he stated.
In response to these concerns, the police have implemented both visible and behind-the-scenes measures to ensure student safety.
“Our patrols, because we have covert things in place and we have overt things in place… you will find that there are more frequent visits, which are the overt patrols. So, you would see the police vehicle passing around the schools more often,” Jeffers explained.
The Acting Commissioner underscored the importance of quick response times, stating that for schools near headquarters, “It would be about the maximum maybe five minutes because we have vehicles right here.”
Police have also established communication protocols with school administrators. “I had a conversation with the director and we are supposed to meet… and have a discussion,” Jeffers revealed, adding that information about suspicious activities will also be shared via the police Facebook page.
Parents and school officials are being encouraged to remain vigilant and look for specific suspicious behaviors.
“What they should look for is a vehicle that drives around very slow, slows down as if it’s taking information. It’s heavily tinted so you can’t see who is inside,” Jeffers advised. He further warned about the importance of identifying marks, explaining, “The numbers might not be that number for that car,” referring to cases where criminals have switched license plates.
School staff have been instructed not to confront suspicious individuals but instead to “get your students back into the school, into the yard… take a phone, take the picture of any concerning vehicles.
Jeffers urged the public to report suspicious activities promptly.
“Don’t be afraid to call the police when you see any suspicious person or vehicle lingering around your business or your home. Your call to the police might be the difference between what saves a life and what caused someone to lose their life,” he added.
The RPFAB is continuing to coordinate with other agencies in the region that have encountered similar situations.
