Philipsburg:--- Police, Customs and the Coast Guard have arrested at least five Guyanese nationals, the captain and crew members of the New Beginning cargo boat that comes from Guyana with Guyanese produce for sale. The New Beginning has been on the island some two weeks now and they were stopped at sea by the coast guard and customs.SMN News learnt that members of the crew on the New Beginning are suspected of breaking into at least three yachts that are anchored at the Bobby's Marina, while authorities found a host of stolen items on board the cargo boat on Wednesday and Thursday. SMN News learnt that police, custom officers and coast guards were busy searching the boat on Thursday afternoon in search of more stolen items.
According to management of Bobby's Marina the three yachts that were broken into are the "You Can't Believe It", "Winsome" and "Lucy 1." So far the items that belong to Winsome have been recovered on board the New Beginning. Items such as compasses, VHF radios, tools and marine electronic equipment were stolen from the yachts mentioned. Management of Bobby's Marina said they already made contact with the owners of other boats/yachts that they have in storage to see if those boats were also invaded.
SMN News further learnt that a security guard working at Bobby's Marina is involved in the robberies and selling of the items to the crew members of the New Beginning. The source said management of Bobby's Marina called in the Coast Guard to search the New Beginning when they became the most apparent suspects in the break-ins. They said the New Beginning had already departed the island when Coast Guards were called and asked to search the vessel for stolen items.
Prosecutor Rienk Mud confirmed the arrest of the five persons who are currently in the police holding cells as they investigate the case. Mud also confirmed that a lot of stolen items were on board the New Beginning which will be returned to the rightful owners. The public prosecutor's office he said is working on a settlement in which the suspects will pay a substantial fine before they are sent away with a ban from St. Maarten.