Phone snatching security guard to serve jail time

A SECURITY GUARD with the Kingstown Town Board gained five convictions last week: four for snatching phones and another for possession of cannabis, the drug having been combined with phones and other items packaged in a way that suggests it was intended to smuggle into the prison.

Because of the circumstances under which he was in possession of 1710 g of cannabis, Raffique Prince was sentenced at the Serious Offences Court (SOC) on April 12 to nine months in prison.

The 27-year-old Rose Place resident was taken into police custody on the night of April 7, when PC 124 Caesar along with other officers who had received a report of theft against him met him in the vicinity of Randy’s bakery.

Upon arrival back at the station, Caesar noticed that the hoodie that Prince was wearing matched the description of a hoodie being worn by the culprit of a number of reported thefts about the district. The modus operandi of the thief was to snatch phones from pedestrians.

The police also recovered two phones matching the description of stolen phones from an individual close to Prince.

When cautioned by the police, the security guard admitted to stealing four phones over the course of four months, and the two phones recovered were two which were stolen.

Early in the morning on April 8, Caesar executed a search warrant on the home of the defendant where he uncovered a multicoloured plastic bag containing taped parcels. The officer cautioned Prince in the presence of another officer, PC 1022 Toby, and Prince said “ah somebody give me them weed dey fu hold, them nah mine but me go own them because you find them in my house.”

The parcels also contained two cellphones, chargers, wrapping papers, cigarettes, lighters, high leaf, and bottles of a liquid.

Prince was taken to different courts on the matters. The Kingstown Magistrate’s Court (KMC) dealt with the four theft charges, while the SOC sentenced him on the possession of marijuana.

Before the SOC last week, the magistrate and prosecutor found it aggravating that the defendant abused his position.

Station Sergeant, Renrick Cato stated, “This is 1000g (of marijuana) your honour, but starting with the defendant and his employment working with the Government as a security guard where you breach the trust that was placed in you, you used the office to assist in the commission of an offence…” He also pointed out how the parcels were packaged, as they were laid out across the table of the court.

“…The bottle drinks are tagged and wrapped and attached to marijuana packages, high leaf packages, chargers and air pods, as well as lighters and cigarettes…several phones” Chief Magistrate, Rechanne Browne said, adding, “and you are a security officer.”

“That is the most aggravating part of this thing your honour,” the prosecution said. He stressed that the court should take into consideration the theft of cellphones and the fact that the packages contain cell phones.

“…Just walking in the road, see you with a phone, snatch your phone and run – as a security officer,” Cato commented.

He also noted that, “the court must draw a reasonable inference that these packages were bound for the prisons; it’s for the prisons based on the way they are packaged and the writings,” referring to the initials on the taped parcels.

The prosecution submitted that based on all the facts and circumstances of the matter “although it is 1000g of marijuana or cannabis” he should be sent to a place where he could reflect on the “foolishness” he put himself into.

“He tarnished the name of the Town Board, because he’s working with them and I always say your honour, for every action there’s a reaction,” the station sergeant said.

The prosecution felt that the most fitting sentence would be a custodial sentence.

The magistrate concluded that the most aggravating feature in the case was the use of his job in the commission of the offences.

“ As a security officer, using that position in the Kingstown Town Board” to steal phones that end up in packages seemingly destined for the prison.

“Extremely, extremely aggravating. Well packaged, destined for Her Majesty’s Prison,” Browne said.

Later, when the magistrate sentenced the defendant, because of the aggravating features of the offence, the penalty was increased from seven months to 13 months in prison. Prince’s guilty plea reduced his sentence by four months, leaving a nine month prison term.

The day prior to this sentence for marijuana possession was handed down, Prince pleaded guilty at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court to the four charges of cellphone theft. Two of his victims were present at the court and they apparently had mercy on Prince. The phones had also been recovered. Based on all the circumstances it was determined that a bond would be appropriate.

For stealing one Samsung cellphone A10 valued US$235, its case and SIM from Patricia Jeffers on January 20, Prince was ordered to pay $125 compensation by May 2 or spend one month in prison. He was bonded in the sum of $1500 for one year with a penalty of six months on breach of the bond.

Likewise he received this sentence for stealing a Samsung A10S and case from DeAndrea Barbour.

However, Prince returned the next day for sentencing on the other two matters and by this time he had already been sentenced to nine months in prison.

Prince’s girlfriend had money to compensate Fitzroy Thomas, whose Samsung Galaxy A10s phone screen had been damaged after it was stolen by Prince on February 23. Therefore compensation of $350 was ordered for this theft.

For stealing a Samsung Galaxy A32, SIM and 32GB memory card from Danica Hackshaw on February 15, the defendant is bonded for one year in the sum of $1500. If he breaches this, the penalty is six months in prison.