Thugs terrorise Tangerine Place - Over the last four months, about three doctors have been robbed

Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

Tangerine Place, off Half-Way Tree Road, St. Andrew, where a number of popular medical facilities are located, has seen a spate of robberies and physical attacks on both staff and persons using these establishments in recent times.

Two medical technicians were held up at gunpoint this week in the latest of incidents at Tangerine Place, forcing the proprietors to beef up security at the business complex.

Approximately 9:00 p.m. on Monday, two technicians conducting work at a dental office at Tangerine Place were abducted by gunmen.

The men were taken to Paddington Terrace in Barbican, upper St. Andrew, where they were beaten and shot. The technicians have since been hospitalised.

This robbery and assault was at least the sixth criminal incident that has occurred at the business place, which boasts several affluent clients, in the last 11 months.

Tangerine Place, which is a plaza-like building situated on the left-hand side of the Half-Way Tree Road entrance to Medical Associates Hospital, houses at least 10 business entities.

One dental surgeon, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he was perturbed by the frequent incidents of robbery and assault at the complex.

He told The Gleaner that, over the last four months, about three doctors have been robbed.

In one incident, a patient was also held up when the doctor was being robbed.

Vehicle stolen

In addition, several offices on the compound have been broken into. A vehicle was also stolen from the property, the dental surgeon said.

Senior Superintendent of Police George Quallo, who is in charge of St. Andrew Central, said each of these incidents has been investigated.

SSP Quallo also said Monday night's incident, involving the two men, was "at the forefront of the investigations". The individual owners of the business entities at Tangerine Place have, however, employed a security company.

Yesterday, when The Gleaner visited Tangerine Place, there was a security guard at the entrance of the building, accompanied by a dog.

According to police statistics, some 1,350 incidents of breakings have been reported up to December 9 this year. There were 1,245 such incidents reported last year. In terms of shootings, 1,350 such incidents were reported up to December 9, with 1,265 incidents being reported during 2006.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com