Freeman said it is a skill he picked up in prison

With the use of an icepick and knowledge he had acquired while in prison Andre Shamar Freeman burglarized the Democratic Labour Party’s St James South Constituency Office in October 2018 making off with $16, 649.54 worth of items.

Today, before Madam Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell he admitted that he took 104 geometry sets; 80 punches; 72 boxes of staples; 180 books; 96 bottles of alcohol; 25 haversacks; 12 boxes of pencils; 22 boxes of crayons; 240 pens; 72 sharpeners; 300 folders; 41 shirts; 408 containers of glue; 16 baskets; 108 reams of paper; 36 rules; 39 toys; three bathroom sets; nine umbrellas and 48 markers.

Outlining the details of the case, Senior Crown Counsel Neville Watson said police received information concerning items at a pawnshop after receiving a report from the caretaker at the constituency office.

Their investigations led to Freeman who later took them to his residence and handed over some items including the two haversacks, pencils, 49 geometry set and other stationery.

He said: “I get this from a house in St James.”

He then took lawmen to 4th Avenue West Terrace, St James where he pointed to a house on the right and said he got the items from there.

He also showed the police a metal door, pointed to the lock and explained how he was able to pry the door open.

During that time he was told of his rights but Freeman, who disclosed that he had walked to the office via Fitts Village, reportedly said: “I plan to plead guilty to this.”

Freeman refused to give police a written statement but answered several questions. He told police he threw the icepick in a skip. But it was not recovered.

According to the prosecutor he also told lawmen that he sold some of the items to random people and the remainder police had retrieved.

When asked where he had learnt to pick locks Freeman responded: “I was in prison with de deadbolt man, he showed me certain things.

“To tell the truth I was not working and things was hard I wanted some money,” he added when questioned about his reasons for stealing the items.

After reading the facts Watson requested a restitution order so the items could be returned to the constituency office. It was granted.

Freeman has 38 convictions, 36 of them for burglary. He will re-appear before Justice Smith-Bovell on August 28. A pre-sentencing report has been ordered on him in the meantime.