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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Two Arrested in Central High Burglary

The Virgin Islands Police Department announced the arrest of two young men in connection to the weekend burglary of Central High School on St. Croix.

Sergeant George Felix, supervisor of the forensic unit, said investigators were able to quickly recover most of the stolen items due to tips from the community.

School officials reported the theft of electronic equipment on Monday and, by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, police were executing a search warrant on a home in Old Fredensberg.

Inside the home officers allegedly discovered 39 laptop computers, four flat-screen TVs and an assortment of speakers, amplifiers, surge protectors and wires, and two printers. All of the property was tagged with government stickers and was hidden behind a false wall or under floorboards in the home, according to police.

Jensen Estepan, 21, was taken into custody in connection with the burglary. A 17-year-old male was also arrested. His identity is being withheld because he is a minor.

The police said the minor was a Central High student.

Estepan was placed on a $10,000 bail and remanded to the custody of the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility.

Police Commissioner-designate Rodney Querrard spoke angrily of the crime at a news conference Wednesday.

“What does someone get from breaking in to a public school or any school here in the territory?” he said. “They’re taking education away from the youth. They’re taking away the tools teachers use every day to educate our youth.”

Querrard went on to praise community members who “stepped up to the plate by doing the right thing” by supplying tips that led to the arrests. He said the investigation into the burglary was ongoing and urged the community to continue cooperating with the police.

“We believe there’s a great possibility of others being involved,” he said.

Querrard also took the opportunity to update the public on the investigation into the burning of six new police cruisers early Monday morning.

He said the “ball is rolling” in the investigation thanks to some community tips, but asked anyone who hears anything about the crime to please come forward.

“We believe these people will be bragging,” he said.

Querrard said it will be up to the insurance companies to determine whether or not the cruisers will be able to be repaired, but in his opinion “they don’t look good.”

Calling the crime “foolishness,” Querrard vowed that the arsonist would be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

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