A significant increase in break-ins since the start of the year in comparison to the same period last year, in which churches and schools are targeted in St Thomas, is now a major concern to the police.

In expressing the police concerns Acting Superintendent Charmaine Shand reported 18 more break-ins so far this year over the corresponding period last year. She says there were 53 break-ins in the parish since the start of this year in comparison to the same period last year, when there were 35 such criminal activities.

So far, the month of July has been a major concern as it recorded 21 break-ins to date, eight of which involved the Morant Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church and other churches in Lyssons and White Horses. The churches are being targeted for their audio systems, fans and computer system.

At the same time, schools within the parish also suffered significantly at the hands of the crooks with four being robbed along with other places including homes and shops. The Busy Bee Basic School in Yallahs suffered the brunt of the attack being broken into three times since a year. Another basic school in Morant Bay has been broken into numerous times over the years with cooking utensils taken.

Principal of the Busy Bee Basic School, Eugenie Hayden, told The Weekend Star that the school has been robbed of five fans, a computer, printer, a CD player and a modem. She said the break-ins were done on weekends.