More cars vandalised close to National Stadium

Desmon Brown, general manager of Independence Park Limited (IPL), has called the recent spate of vehicle break-ins near the National Stadium as "the worst I've ever seen."

His comments came after a viral video showcasing at least five vehicles with smashed windows and extensive damage, which were broken into allegedly as patrons attended the Concacaf Nations League match between Jamaica's Reggae Boyz and Honduras on Monday night. In the disturbing footage, a bystander can be heard saying, "Every car them bruck inna, everything [mash]up."

The incident has reignited concerns about parking safety during events at the stadium, whether sporting or entertainment, where many attendees opt for 'unofficial' parking spaces instead of the designated lots managed by IPL. Brown stressed that the area where the damage seemingly occurred is not supervised by IPL.

"I want the true story to come out," he said. "That area is not the official car park for the National Stadium. I can't guarantee its safety." He pointed to "hustlers" who lead patrons into parking in less secure areas, only to leave them vulnerable to theft and vandalism.

"We continue to tell people to use the proper space. Albeit, we would not have enough space for everybody," Brown explained. He emphasised the need for police involvement to help monitor certain areas.

Superintendent Rory Martin, commander for the St Andrew Central Police Division, confirmed that police received three reports from the National Stadium Police Station on the night of the match.

"Two cars were broken into and property was stolen, and one car was stolen, which was later recovered," he said. However, he could not confirm whether these vehicles were parked in designated areas or elsewhere. He noted that incidents like these are not new.

"I've known that it is a long-standing issue when events are kept at the stadium," he stated. "Unscrupulous persons will come there and prey on persons' vehicles." He encouraged anyone affected to report the crimes so the police can better understand the scope of the problem.

- T.P.