Crystal Harrison, Star Writer

The popular cash-for-gold trade is suspected to be behind a series of house break-ins in the Corporate Area where robbers aim only for jewellery.

THE WEEKEND STAR understands that valuables such as furniture, electronics and appliances, are being overlooked by some robbers.

In one incident, it was reported that thieves broke into an upper St Andrew home last weekend, making off with an estimated $2 million worth of jewellery leaving behind other valuables.

"They broke into a house and only stole expensive jewellery, they didn't even take anything else and it is a number of houses they have broken into in that same community and they only take jewellery," a woman revealed.

Recently, Tropical Jewellers on Constant Spring Road, St Andrew was robbed of an estimated $50 million worth of jewellery. The robbers had disguised themselves as police officers to pull off the daylight heist.

Crime chief for the St. Andrew North Division, Deputy Superintendent Altermoth Campbell, is aware of the trend. "Some thieves specialise in what they are going after. Some thieves would break into a house for jewellery and not trouble appliances or electronics, while one may find that some other thieves might go and steal anything they think is valuable."

In the meantime, THE WEEKEND STAR understands that the cash-for-silver trade, even though not as popular as the cash-for-gold, is also in the mix.

Superintendent Steve McGregor, head of the Kingston Central Division, yesterday revealed the cash-for-silver trade is not a new trend as it falls under second hand jewellery.

"The licence that a lot of the established jewellery stores have is a licence to deal in second-hand jewellery and silver would also fall in that line."