Five men were arrested yesterday moments after they reportedly tied up three security guards at the T&T Yacht Club and robbed them of cash and valuables. The thieves also tried to steal three boat engines. According to police, seven men barged through the barrier of the club on the Western Main Road, Glencoe around 3.30 am and tied up two security guards. The men then ordered one of the guards to call his colleagues and one guard responded while two others remained at the back of compound.
When the guard came he too was tied up and robbed of cash and his cell phone. The three guards were left inside the bathroom of the guard booth while the thieves ripped wires from the electric panel boxes so that they would not be caught on camera.
While stealing the three boat engines, two 85 horsepower and one 115 horsepower, WPC Vidale of the Rapid Response along with other officers were patrolling the area and noticed the men acting suspiciously. The men were approached. However, they ran towards the ocean behind the yacht club and temporarily eluded capture. The three boat engines, valued at just over $100,000, were left behind in the tray of a white panel Hyundai van along with power tools used in the robbery.
The officers called for assistances and ASP Ramlochan, inspectors Mohammed and Hospedales along with other officers responded. The lawmen were also assisted by helicopter, which was used to locate five of the seven men running along the shoreline. The men, police said, lived at Laventille and central Trinidad. Police said they also arrested two men in Chaguaramas earlier who they suspect might have been working with the five men after they were found acting suspiciously.
The men, police said, claimed they were in the area to fish. However, no fishing equipment was found. In an interview with the media, manager of TTYC Chris Burford thanked the police for their swift action. “I just want to thank the police for their invaluable help because they were really on the ball.
The police are doing a good job, there are some negative comments but based on what I saw this morning the police deserve 100 points for their performance,” he said. Burford added that there was another incident of theft at the club the day before where a drug addict was caught after stealing two batteries. “We trying to send a message, don’t come in the club because we would catch you,” Burford said.