LATEST NEWS, inside the BPS

Weekend Arrests

Mon, 2023-03-06

BLADED ARTICLE ARREST

Shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 5th, 2023, police received information that a male was seen at the Bus Terminal in the City of Hamilton with what appeared to be a large bladed item in his possession.

Officers immediately responded. However, upon arrival at the bus terminal, they were informed the subject had boarded a bus bound for Dockyard via Middle Road.

Officers located the bus and travelled safely behind it until a person fitting the description of the subject disembarked in the vicinity of the Bermuda Institute.

Officers approached the subject, a 32-year-old Warwick male and informed him that he would be searched under section 315F of the criminal code.

During the search officers recovered a meat cleaver from the waistband of the subject’s trousers. He was arrested for possession of a bladed article and conveyed to the Hamilton Police Station without incident.

CAR RECOVERED

Around 4:40 p.m. on Saturday 4th March 2023, Police were alerted by a member of the public that a blue Kia Picanto motorcar, which was reportedly taken without the owner’s consent following a burglary at a Hamilton Parish sometime between Thursday, February 28th and Saturday March 4th, 2023, was seen in the area of Crawl Point Lane West, Hamilton Parish.

Upon police arrival at that location, a male driving the suspect vehicle attempted to flee the scene but struck the front bumper of the police car, resulting in minor damage to both cars.  The driver of the suspect vehicle was subsequently arrested and charged for burglary and taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

BURGLARY

Around 2:00 a.m. on Monday, March 6th, 2023, police received a report of suspicious noises coming from above La Trattoria Restaurant in the Washington Mall. The caller informed police a male had just smashed in the glass door to “Sidekicks” sports shop."

Upon realising he was being watched, the male fled the scene by running up Washington lane towards City Hall.

Responding officers observed a motor car driven by a male fitting the description of the suspect, exiting the rear of City Hall. They approached the vehicle causing it to come to a stop.

The officers conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered a crow bar, a pair of bolt cutters and a mask on the front passenger seat.

Officers seized the items and arrested and cautioned the driver for the offence of going equipped.

Further enquiries revealed the vehicle driven by the suspect was unlicensed and uninsured. The vehicle was subsequently impounded and the subject transported to the Hamilton Police Station where he was detained.

Investigations into all three matters remain ongoing. Anyone with information on any of them is asked to call 211 or, the main police number 295-0011. You may also contact the independent and confidential Crime Stoppers number, 800-8477. Alternatively, share the information with a police officer whom you know.

Two Vehicle Collision on Middle Road, Paget Near Manse Road

Fri, 2023-03-03

Around 1:15pm on Friday 3rd March 2023, police and other first responders were dispatched to a report of a 2 vehicle collision along Middle Road, Paget near the entrance to Tanglewood Road involving two motor cars.

Early information suggests both vehicles were traveling in opposite directions, when an unknown motorcycle headed in a westerly direction overtook the car in the westbound lane, causing the car traveling in the eastbound lane to take evasive action and strike a wall, before colliding with the car in the westbound lane.

A female senior citizen has been taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment of injuries not known to police at this time. No other persons involved were reported to be injured.

Extensive damage to one of the vehicles has caused an obstruction in the westbound lane. Traffic diversions are in place at Middle Road / Cobbs Hill Road and Middle Road / Manse Road until the road has been cleared.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to call PC Jason Ming on 247-1788.

Scam Alert: Beware of Phishing E-mails Targeting Seniors

Thu, 2023-03-02

The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) continues to advise members of the public to beware of phishing scams that seek to obtain money, personal information and banking details.

Scam Alert: Beware of Imposters’ Claims & Fake Property Listings

Thu, 2023-03-02

The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) is once again advising members of the public to beware of social media scams that seek to obtain money, personal information and banking details.

In one such scam recently, a local man paid $1,000 for bedroom furniture advertised for sale on Instagram.

He was then contacted by someone claiming to work for a money service business, who needed help moving money out of accounts.

The same local man was ultimately contacted by someone who suggested that they were a detective in the Bermuda Police Service cyber crimes unit, following up on a computer related crime. The imposter asked for full personal banking details.

Recognising that the two spontaneous requests from individuals allegedly representing official organisations were also scams, the man did not comply with either request.

These matters are currently under investigation by the BPS Financial Crimes Unit.

Another scam which is circulating on social media involves apartments for rent in Bermuda and in other jurisdictions, where a deposit is requested to view the property.

However, once the deposit money is received, the person supposedly offering the apartment is no longer contactable and no property visit takes place.

Residents are reminded to be wary of any social media advertisements where the seller requires an initial cash deposit and/or personal information upfront.

In addition, it is strongly recommended that members of the public do their own due diligence regarding any social media advertisements they may be interested in.

Suspected scams can be reported by calling 211, or sending an e-mail to 211@bps.bm.

Operation Vega Update for February 2023

Wed, 2023-03-01

Acting Superintendent Robert Cardwell, Tactical Operations Division – “For the month of February 2023, recorded traffic infractions were down in all categories when compared to January 2023. The Bermuda Police Service (BPS) continues to progress Operation Vega under the ethos of calming the roads and making the roads safer, while holding those who commit traffic offences accountable.

Injuries in both fatal and serious injury collisions are consistently attributable to head injury. As part of the investigation into these matters, we are specifically looking at helmets, to determine if improper use or sub-standard helmets are contributing to these injuries. We encourage all to inspect your helmets. If they are damaged in any way, it is imperative that they are replaced.

The BPS continues to receive reports from members of the public who have suffered a bad driving experience. This includes careless overtaking, such as overtaking on the inside, being cut off and cycles encroaching to the opposite side of the road. We encourage all to reflect on their own driving behaviour and ensure that you are not adding to the problem.

Instances of impaired driving continues to be of concern. 27 people were arrested for this offence in February with 11 of those in an advertised road side sobriety testing weekend.

This compares to 14 motorists that were arrested in January. If you drink – do not drive, the life you save might be your own.”

Statistics

During the month of February 2023, 358 traffic tickets were issued, down from 490 in the previous reporting period. In addition, in this reporting period 56 motorist advice notices (official written warnings) were issued, down from 73 in the previous reporting period.

105 parking tickets were also issued, down from 240 in the previous reporting period.

For the first two months of this year (January & February 2023), 41 impaired drivers were arrested. That compares to 23 for the same period in 2022.

Since the start of Operation Vega (6th July 2021), a total of 8,923 traffic tickets have been issued.

The breakdown of ticketed traffic offences for February 2023 is below. The change compared to the previous reporting period is provided in brackets.

Speeding                                      222 (-32) Speeds ranged from 58 kph to 94 kph.  

Traffic sign                                    52 (-13)                 

Unlicensed vehicle                      24 (-22)                  

No third party insurance            21 (-14)           

No driver’s licence                       17 (-28)      

Manner of driving                          5 (+1)

Disqualified driver                         0 (-2)                     

Seatbelt                                           2 (-2)                       

Helmet                                            8 (+3)               

Handheld device                           3 (-12)

Defective vehicle                           2 (0)

Fail to give name/address            0 (0)

Fail to stop                                      2 (+2)

Fraudulent documents                 0 (-1)

Making false statement               0 (-1)

License plate offence                   0 (-4)

Tint offence                                   0 (-7)

Youth license offence                  0 (0)

11 Impaired Driving Arrests During Checkpoints This Past Weekend

Mon, 2023-02-27

Acting Superintendent Robert Cardwell, Tactical Operations Division – “As advertised, road side sobriety testing was enforced between last week Thursday, 23rd February 2023 and Sunday, 26th February 2023 on the roads of Bermuda.

In this period, 1,868 engagements were recorded. An engagement is a conversation between a police officer and a motorist where a sobriety assessment is conducted.

24 motorists were tested on road side sobriety testing devices. 11 of those motorists then failed the alco-analyser test at Hamilton Police Station and were arrested for an impaired driving offence.

In addition, during these exercises 5 road users were arrested on outstanding court apprehension warrants, 6 were issued moving violation tickets and 6 were issued motorist advice notices (official written warnings).

Two people were arrested for taking a motorcycle without the owner’s consent and two stolen motorcycles were recovered.

In the month of February 2023 to date, 27 motorists have been arrested for impaired driving offences. This compares to 11 motorists for the same period in 2022.

We continue to be concerned around how prolific impaired driving is in our community.

Even in the face of advertisement, there are those who will continue to take the chance.

11 arrests over the course of the last weekend equates to 11 lives saved.

Our message remains, if you drink do not drive.”

Collision: Cedar Avenue & Dundonald Street Junction, Pedal Cyclist Hurt

Mon, 2023-02-27

Around 11:30am on Monday 27th February, 2023, emergency services were dispatched to the scene of a serious collision at the junction of Cedar Avenue and Dundonald Street, City of Hamilton involving a car and a pedal cyclist.

On arrival at the scene it was ascertained that a man driving the motorcar was headed east along Dundonald Street, crossing the junction with Cedar Avenue, when it is believed that a man riding a pedal cycle south on Cedar Avenue ran a red light and collided with the motorcar.

The pedal cyclist was transported to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and is being treated for head injuries. The driver of the car, was not reported to be injured.

A portion of the road between Brunswick Street and Cedar Avenue is closed, while traffic accident investigators process the scene.

Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to call Constable Tyler Nelmes on 211 or email tnelmes@bps.bm.

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