The St Catherine South police have taken a man of unsound mind into custody in connection with the burning of several vehicles in the Greater Portmore area recently.

"We have caught a man who is suspected to be the one who set fire to the vehicles," said operations officer for St Catherine South Division, Deputy Superintendent Clive Blair.

When The Gleaner visited the 4 East area, Derron Johnson was still counting his losses as he surveyed what was left of his Ford 750 truck, which was burnt last Thursday.

"When I estimated the value of the truck, it was $900,000, but now a just the shell that is left, and my little earnings stop. It makes me feel really sad about the whole thing," Johnson said.

Nowhere to turn

Johnson's sadness was echoed by his driver, Craig Irons, who said he did not know where to turn for employment.

"The burning of the truck really affect me, as we used it to work for the Jamaica Public Service Company, and now a just the frame leave," Irons told The Gleaner.

Unknown persons have since stripped the truck of its battery and licence plates.

Residents told The Gleaner that at 4 West a BMW and a Nissan motor car were also torched.

"We glad that them hold someone. But since he is a mad person him not going to be charged," reasoned Michael Shakes.

The police told The Gleaner that the man in custody would be taken to a facility to be cared for. It had not been established if he would be charged.

The police said a psychiatric evaluation would have to be carried out to determine if he should be charged.