A rise in serious and violent crime across the Isle of Wight in recent months has sparked concern amongst Islanders, who are asking ‘What has happened to our Island?’.
In the last 6 months there have been numerous incidents across the Isle of Wight that have raised some concerns amongst the community – crime that was previously relatively unheard of on the Island, which has always been considered somewhat of a safe haven.
Since October there has been at least: 5 robberies or attempted robberies; 5 safe thefts, 9 acts of burglary or theft; 1 suspected murder; 4 car chases; 6 serious assaults and 3 armed police responses, alongside 2 acts of arson and numerous other incidents – and that is only what has been reported by Island Echo.
Only this morning (Friday) was an 86-year-old man mugged of his pension at 10:30 in Ventnor. On Wednesday night, a 46-year-old man was assaulted by a group of 4 men in Ryde.
In all, a staggering 43 crime-related incidents have been reported by Island Echo since 15th October that are deemed serious or unusual. Of that number, almost half (20) have been within the last 8 weeks.
They include:
Robbery/Attempted Robbery/Theft/Burglary
• Elderly man mugged in Ventnor
• National Tyres broken into and cash stolen
• Costcutter and Spar broken into by pair
• Attempted robbery of Shorwell post office
• Pub safe stolen from The Horse and Groom
• Safe stolen from Cowes hotel
• Violent robbery of Ryde Co-Operative
• Cash stolen from Shanklin Welcome store
• Thefts from workman’s vans across the Island
• Charity boxes stolen from Ventnor shop
• Police search for armed robbery suspect
• Properties and vehicles damaged in Wroxall
• 17-year-old charged after attempted armed robbery
• One hospitalised after shop ransacked
• Thieves steal safes from Island pubs
• Two arrested after West Wight burglary
Assaults/Violent Crime
• Police appeal after 46-year-old assaulted
• Taxi drivers assaulted in Newport
• Drinks spiked in Newport and Ryde
• Lake flat cordoned off after assault
• Murder investigation after Newport man dies
• Man tasered after Newport stabbing incident
• Arrest after young girl assaulted in Newport
• Elderly lady assaulted in Newport
• Suspect search after assault on shop worker
• Serious assault on 71-year-old man
Vehicle Crime/Car Chases
• Trio flee into Parkhurst Forest after chase
• Driver leaves scene after Smallbrook crash
• Occupants flee from Wootton smash
• Households evacuated after car hits gas main
• Helicopter search after Audi fails to stop
• Three arrested after Police pursuit
• Suspect search after car rolls near Cowes
• Helicopter search for vehicle occupants
• Police pursuit results in helicopter search
Gun and Weapon Crime
• Man with gun spotted in Godshill
• Man with crossbow arrested outside school
• Armed Police respond to block of flats
• Police attend domestic knife incident
Sexual Crimes
• Man flashes to mum and daughter in Ryde
• Shanklin man travels for sex with ‘girl’
Arson
• Derelict building destroyed after arson
• Toilet block set on fire in Sandown
