WESTERN BUREAU:

THE ST James police are working with their Trelawny counterparts to determine all possible links to the theft of a trailerload of steel from Tank-Weld Metals in Montego Bay on the weekend.

Up to last night, investigators attached to the Montego Bay Criminal Investigation Branch confirmed that they had not yet made any arrest in connection with the heist, valued at more than $7.5 million.

"We have done some intensive work in this matter and we are confident that we are on top of our investigations," said Detective Deputy Superintendent Michael Garrick, who heads the St James crime portfolio.

Delicate stage

He said the police were making some progress with their investigations with a view towards arresting and charging someone. Garrick, however, declined to comment further on the matter, as the police probe remained at a delicate stage.

The Gleaner has learnt, however, that a businessman could be called in for questioning in connection with the matter.

Police have confirmed that last Friday night, an employee drove the trailer loaded with approxi-mately 35 tonnes of steel at a location and parked it at the premises of Tank-Weld in Catherine Hall. The keys were apparently left inside the vehicle.

Early Saturday morning, the trailer and contents went missing. Investigations by the company, its private security firm and the police led to all the steel being recovered from a premises in the Lilliput, St James.

noel.thompson@gleanerjm.com