Still shaken by a robbery in Tabaquite last week in which two of the assailants were killed, 23-year-old Chanice Marchand is still not sure she will ever return to her job as a pump attendant. The mother of two was held at gunpoint at Boodoosingh’s Service Station and forced to hand over $5,000 in cash and valuables.
Two of the robbers who were killed following a shootout with police. They have been identified as Leston Halls, of Todd’s Road, Caparo, and Ricardo Nicholas Williams, of Penal. Two other suspects remain at large, police said. Marchand told the T&T Guardian she has not slept comfortably since the robbery.
“I keep seeing the gun pointed at my face. I woke up several times last night shaking,” she said
Although she insisted she was not afraid, Marchand admiutted she has not been able to summon up the courage to go back to work.
“When I took the job I didn’t think this would happen. I was working a few times for the week but now it is becoming too dangerous to work,” she said.
Ronnie Boodoosingh, who owns the service station, said it was not the first time his place was robbed. He said between 2010 and 2015 robbers left him alone because the Brasso Police Post was close by. However, since the post was closed down and the new Brasso Police Station opened last year, robberies have become prevalent in Flanagin Town. Boodoosingh wants the police to set up more roadblocks and patrol the area more frequently.
“The area where the police station is located has no businesses there. We think that the police should continue to have a presence in Flanagin Town by utilising the police post,” he said. The other worker at the service station, Winston Ganess, who fled during the robbery, has not turned up for work since. Police said they are continuing to search for the two escapees.
The bandits came in a white AD wagon which they parked on a side street near the service station. After robbing Marchand, they jumped into the car and sped along Flanagin Main Road and onto Los Atajos Road. Police intercepted the car at Farnum Village, Guaracara Road, Tabaquite.
Officers claimed the robbers fired at them and they returned fire, shooting Halls and Williams. Both were taken to hospital where they died. A Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol fitted with a magazine and seven rounds of ammunition was recovered. Insp Douglas, Sgt Toolaram, Sgt Persad, Sgt Mohammed and other officers are continuing investigations.