Elderly landlord charged after allegedly cutting locks, robbing tenant
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A 69-year-old landlord in St. Catherine, Jamaica, was charged with stealing $400,000 in coins from a tenant.
- The landlord allegedly cut the tenant's padlocks, replaced them, and entered the dwelling to steal the savings.
- The accused confessed to the crimes and is awaiting his court date.
A 69-year-old landlord in St. Catherine, Jamaica, faces charges including breaches of the Rent Restriction Act and housebreaking and larceny after allegedly stealing a significant sum of money from his tenant. The accused, Lloyd Gonzales, also known as 'Gons,' is accused of making off with approximately $400,000 in coins.
The incident occurred between July 6 and July 9. The tenant had securely locked her rented dwelling before leaving. Upon her return, she discovered that Gonzales had allegedly cut off the existing padlocks on the front grille and replaced them with new ones. After gaining entry, she found that a room inside had been forced open and her savings pan, containing the coins, was missing.
The matter was reported to the Old Harbour Police, leading to Gonzales's arrest. He was subsequently charged on July 11, reportedly after confessing to the alleged crimes. His court date is currently being finalized. The case highlights a serious breach of trust between a landlord and tenant.
Originally published by Jamaica Observer. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.