Jewellery heist at airport
now put at US $850,000
~ Jewellery from at least 7 companies involved ~
PHILIPSBURG--Latest reports put the value of last weekend’s big jewellery heist at Princess Juliana International Airport at around US $850,000 – more than twice the earlier estimate of US $350,000 in Swiss luxury watches.
Also, while earlier reports reaching The Daily Herald had indicated that a single jewellery store was the victim, it is now clear that authorities are investigating the theft of jewellery belonging to at least seven companies from the cargo building at the airport.
In confirming the estimated US $850,000 value of the loot yesterday, Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said last weekend’s heist was the largest single theft he had ad to deal with since his arrival on island. It was also probably the largest ever theft of its type recorded in St. Maarten.
Stein said Wednesday that he would be speaking with KLM, the company that flew in the high priority cargo last week Friday, which has since announced it will not be flying in any more such cargo to St. Maarten until further notice.
Aviation Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams said she had not been officially apprised of the robbery that took place at the cargo facility adjoining Princess Juliana International Airport.
She told reporters at Wednesday’s Executive Council press briefing that she was awaiting a report on the heist and was certain that by now additional security would have been put in place, considering the magnitude of the robbery.
The jewellery store operators had their Christmas stock flown in to the island in preparation for the rush this season, but it seems someone got wind of the major shipment and made plans to steal it.
Stein said he couldn’t rule out for the moment the possibility that the operation was an inside job, especially as there were so many companies operating in the same building, but he had no particular evidence that would substantiate the claim.
Princess Juliana International Airport President Director Eugene Holiday had little to say regarding security at the facility or the incident, citing the need to avoid becoming involved in a media debate about whose responsibility it was to secure the cargo facility against such thefts.
He also said he thought it wise not to comment, considering that the matter was being investigated by the police. “With respect to security, I think each of the handlers in that facility knows their responsibility and I won’t go into a blame game,” Holiday told The Daily Herald Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the manager of the cargo company Swissport Cargo that handled the US $350,000 in Swiss luxury watches Friday before they were stolen told this newspaper Wednesday, “If you want to know about security, you will have to check with the owner of the property, and that’s the airport.” The manager declined to give further comments regarding the heist or security at the facility during the daytime, at night and during the weekend.
Another major operator at the Cargo Department is American Airlines and its Country Head Bennett Bell said Wednesday that AA had its own security during the day. Bell also said AA had specific procedures in place for “priority packages,” which included ensuring that they remained in the hands of AA until they were delivered to the recipient(s).
He said AA notified recipients in advance of the arrival of high priority packages so they could show up at the airport when the aircraft landed and collect these items. During the night time, Bell said, security at the Cargo Building is handled by the Airport.
The entire state of security at that area, where there is a main access gate leading into the airport grounds, has been cause for concern for the attorneys representing one of the jewellery companies. The attorneys have questioned the level of security as it pertains to protection from possible terrorist attacks.
In response to such statements, Holiday said he thought such statements were for the account of the attorney(s) and that if they could substantiate their claims, they were welcome to do so and “we will take it from there.” (Alfred Harley)
