From left to right, mugshots of Robert O. Thomas Jr., and Rayvon Freeman. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX – The two men accused of stealing two trucks along with other equipment from Rendco Earth Movers were before the V.I. Superior Court on St. Croix Wednesday for their advice of rights hearing.
According to court documents, authorities were alerted to the initial theft on Thursday March 6 when the company's owner, Marian Prescod, reported that two Mack trucks were missing from the area in Krause Lagoon, near the Container Port, where they were stored. The gate to the property had been knocked off its hinges and other heavy equipment and items were also missing, police say. The trucks and equipment had been secured at the premises on February 20.
The matter gained renewed attention after Ms. Prescod, frustrated by the lack of progress from the VIPD following her March theft report, contacted The Consortium. A story was published the following day, and within 24 hours, police had recovered the equipment stolen in March. By June 3rd, all stolen items had been located.
According to court documents, an anonymous tip reportedly led police to an auto body shop in Christiansted. Robert O. Thomas Jr. reportedly spontaneously admitted to officers that he was in possession of a stolen vehicle. He directed police to the rear of the property in Barren Spot where one of the trucks had been secreted. The doors had been removed and the hood sprayed with grey primer paint.
Afterwards, Thomas told police that he and Rayvon Freeman, who was on the premises, had stolen that truck and one other from the Container Port area. He told police where they could find the other truck; it had been independently located sometime earlier. A third dump truck, also stolen from the same individual, was recovered as well.
Thomas was arrested, as was Mr. Freeman. They were both charged with grand larceny, buying, receiving or possessing stolen property, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Neither has a prior criminal record on file, police say.
On Tuesday evening, both appeared before Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross, who permitted their release ahead of Wednesday morning’s advice of rights hearing with the payment of 10% of their initial $25,000 bail requirement. The court's release conditions were not available as of press time.
The recovery of the stolen equipment marked a turning point in a case that had frustrated both the business owner and the public. The stolen assets—valued at more than $400,000 according to Ms. Prescod —had been used in the government’s demolition of the Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital.
