Police are urging motorists to equip their vehicles with security tracking devices after yet another robbery.
This time a Couva man was held up and robbed of his $185,000 Mazda BT-50 pick-up while urinating on the shoulder of the Solomon Hochoy Highway on Friday night.
Within the past two weeks in the Southern Division, seven motor vehicles have been stolen, including one on Saturday night at Gulf City Mall, La Romaine.
Motor vehicle larcenies around San Fernando had decreased earlier this year when key players of a robbery gang were arrested. Confirming the robberies yesterday, Insp Don Gajadhar said there was a need for people to arm their vehicles with alarm systems, GPS and kill switches in order to prevent theft.
A report stated that around 9.40 pm Friday, the 60-year-old victim was driving along the highway.
On reaching the Debe interchange, he stopped on the shoulder and exited his vehicle. While urinating, a white Nissan sedan pulled up and an occupant came out and robbed him of his pick-up. He reported the incident to police but his vehicle was yet to be found up to yesterday.
Gajadhar said Nissan’s Almera, Sunny B-14 and Sunny B-13 were preferred by car thieves. He said some of the recently stolen cars were recovered in Diego Martin, Santa Cruz and parts of East Trinidad. He added that a Northern Division team led by Insp Joseph was instrumental in retrieving some of these stolen vehicles.
“We continuously see people go into shops to play lotto or stop to buy doubles and leave their vehicles idling. When they do this, they give criminals an opportunity. The criminals might be passing and watching movement, especially in this season so motorists need to be careful,” Gajadhar said.
One dead, one injured in El Socorro shooting
A 25-year-old man was shot dead and another man wounded after being shot at Persad Lane, El Socorro, on Saturday night.
Antonio De Roche was shot multiple times and died at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.
Another man, who was not identified, remains warded in critical condition at the hospital, police said.
A report said around 9.30 pm, De Roche and another man were liming on the street when a gunman walked up to them and opened fire. Both men were shot multiple times and the injured men were taken to the hospital. Investigators said they have no motive for the shooting.
Grenade found in Enterprise
Police are trying to determine the source a grenade which was found at an abandoned house at Crown Trace, Chaguanas on Friday.
Officers of the Special Patrol Unit, who received a tip-off, found the grenade after they searched an abandoned building.
Investigators said the grenade was found wrapped in some plastic bags and garbage.
No one was arrested in connection with the find.