The police believe men involved in the cash-for-gold trade within the Corporate Area have being tracking down and robbing money from their own customers.

A number of recent cases reportedly occurring in the Half-Way Tree and Cross Roads areas of St Andrew have caused investigators to probe the possibility that the 'dealers' had set up the robbery of persons who conducted business with them just minutes earlier.

One such investigator from the St Andrew Central Police division told THE STAR although investigations are still ongoing, at least three robberies which occurred over the last month are believed to have been staged by dealers.

The latest of the incidents is said to have occurred last week Friday some time around 8 p.m. in the Cross Roads area and involved an 18-year-old man who was robbed at knifepoint by three men.

It was said that the teen had taken a gold chain to a dealer and was given $3,000 for it but was relieved of the money shortly after.

The teen reportedly told the police that the men said they knew he had the sum of money in his possession and should hand it over.

The other cases occurred in a similar manner.

"Based on the nature of the incidents it is being checked to see if the dealers were actually involved ... Investigations are ongoing into the incidents but we are yet to locate any of these dealers just yet so we have to probe some more," the investigator said.

criminal activity

Head of the division, Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, had said that the police would be clamping down on the trade because it contributes to criminal activity.

The cash-for-gold craze which came to prominence in the island last year involves men in busy towns across the island offering persons cash (on the spot) for any gold items they want to trade.

The vendors will pay approximately $10,000 per ounce and $5,000 per pennyweight for the gold. The gold collected is then sent abroad for resale. They only buy gold and will take it even in the form of broken jewellery.

It is illegal to partake in the trade without a licence.