THE police say recent cases of criminals burning the bodies of their victims is disturbing, and expressed fear that it could develop into a trend.

"It is still early days yet but this development is one of concern and is suggesting some type of development in criminal activities," said Sergeant Dwayne Campbell of the Portland police.

The latest reported case took place in Portland, where two men armed with knives stabbed retired banker Herbert Salicram, then set his body ablaze at his home in Grange Hill.

The senior citizen, said the police, was robbed of an undetermined sum of money.

"Based on what we have been hearing in this (Salicram case) and the several other cases islandwide in recent times it would look as if it is a new trend for criminal attacks," said Sergeant Campbell.

In another case last week in Morant Bay, St Thomas, three children, along with their grandmother, were burnt to death during an alleged arson and gun attack at their home.

Gunman reportedly opened fire on the four after which they set the house on fire. The burnt remains were later found huddled together near an entrance to the house, the police reported.

Also, during the first week of January, Special Constable Richard Hamilton, 34, was brutally murdered by gunmen who sprayed his motor vehicle with bullets then set it ablaze in the troubled c**kburn Pen community of Kingston.

And last October police made the gruesome discovery of the charred remains of a 23-year-old female pharmacist, Terry-Ann Thompson, in Chancery Hall, St Andrew.

Police believe that the pharmacist, who worked at MegaMart on Waterloo Road in St Andrew and resided at Woodhaven Avenue, also in St Andrew, was abducted, raped and murdered shortly after boarding a route taxi in Half-Way-Tree after leaving work.