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Jane Brown* believes that robbers have upgraded their tactics and have found creative ways to beat the system to get what they want.

Her view comes after her house in Beadles Boulevard, St Elizabeth, was broken into on July 3, despite having two pit bulls at home.

Brown told THE CENTRAL STAR that prior to her house being broken into, three other houses in the community were ransacked by thieves.

"People said that even though other houses were broken into, I would be the safe one because I had dogs. When I reached home that evening, my light was on and I did not see one of my pit bulls. When I saw the other one, he looked 'off'. So we are assuming that they gave them something to put them down," she said.

"These thieves are equipping themselves with everything to break in your house. They cut four of the spokes from the grille and gained entrance from the back. They kicked off my door and came in and that is their MO (way of doing things) because I have been to my neighbours' house and they did the same thing," she continued.

Late June

When she got inside her house, she realised that things were missing. Thankfully, her two children, who would have been on break from school, were not home at the time.

"They come in the days when people are not at their houses. This started in late June. From my house, they took money, about $150,000, jewellery; I can't put a value on that because some of those jewellery I had are from way back when. (They also took) my children's tablets, I had two old phones, and they took those and clothes," she said.

Other items including toiletries were also taken.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, and head of the police's Corporate Communications Unit, Dahlia Garrick, said she was informed that the St Elizabeth police are aware of the incidents and the commanding officer, Superintendent Samuel Morgan, will have a series of meetings to see how best to tackle the situation.

She said that meetings are scheduled with various critical partners such as the residents and the member of parliament.

"He (Morgan) said there have been a number of incidents in a short span of time which is a cause for concern, but it has not surpassed that of last year," she said.

Garrick said strategies are being implemented to lower the number of break-ins in the community and the parish.

She added that the police are appealing to the public to provide information that can lead to the arrest of persons who are responsible for these crimes.

*name changed on request