At the height of the Christmas season, two areas in Cascade—Knightsbridge and Idlewild—are under attack by criminal elements. The robberies have residents of the two upscale neighbouring communities living on the edge and in fear. Confirming the thefts via e-mail on December 4 was MP for Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West Patricia Mc Intosh.
Mc Intosh said the residents often felt threatened by squatters who penetrated the St Ann’s/Cascade/Hololo community from the Lady Young Road and committed petty larceny. “But we are concerned that these criminal acts would escalate and become more serious,” Mc Intosh wrote. Earlier this year, Mc Intosh said there were a series of robberies on upper Hutton Road, St Ann’s, as well.
At Hutton Road, Mc Intosh said, the robberies were committed by one robber who lived in the area and was known to residents. “This was brought to my attention at a meeting in St Ann’s, in May of this year, to which I had invited the then head of the Belmont Police Station, Inspector Smith, and his officers.” Mc Intosh said they discussed the issue and the police subsequently held the robber, but he was let out of jail because witnesses were afraid to give evidence.
Subsequent to this, Mc Intosh said, in October, she arranged another meeting, which was attended by two deputy commissioners and other police officers. “At this meeting the crime issues were fully ventilated and the police promised to intensify their vigilance of the area.” Though she left the country in November, Mc Intosh said the St Ann’s/Cascade/Hololo community group of activists (StACH) had informed her of two burglaries in Knightsbridge.
Residents and guests held at knife and gunpoint
When the Sunday Guardian recently visited Knightsbridge, one resident who asked to remain anonymous related that the thefts began almost two months ago. “The robbers have been targeting Knightsbridge religiously. They would rob residents and their guests either every week or every other week. They have also been attacking Idlewild,” the resident said.
Although a sign on Knightsbridge Road said the area was under a 24-hour neighbourhood watch and police have beefed up their patrols in the community, this has not deterred the thieves. Recalling an incident last month, the resident said she was driving up Knightsbridge Road around midnight when she saw three men run past her car and duck into Watlins Road, where they hid in some bushes.
“As I proceeded to drive, I saw a man and woman flagging down my car. I stopped only to be told that they were just robbed by the men. They said they were about to enter the driveway of a resident when they were held up in their vehicle,” she recalled. The couple were robbed of jewelry, cash and cellphones.
While the couple were awaiting the police’s arrival, another neighbour rushed over to complain that a tenant and her daughter were held up moments before by men fitting the same description. In another incident, the resident said armed thieves sneaked into a home one night, while guests were being entertained, and robbed them.
“The owner of the house forgot to snap the lock on his front gate when he stepped out. The robbers were watching from across the road and gained entry into the property. The guests were held up at gunpoint, while a knife was placed at the throat of a little boy. Every time you hear a robbery it is a little more concerning,” the resident said. The resident said she also heard that passengers in both communities were repeatedly ambushed and robbed at nights after alighting from taxis.
Thieves walking around with tools
One resident of Cascade River Gardens, which is within close proximity of Knightsbridge, was also held up recently. Since the spate of robberies, neighbours have been forwarding e-mails to one another to be on the lookout for the men armed with screwdrivers.
“It appears they are combing the Cascade area through the river. They are all black, tall, well-built with bandanas. From what I discovered, from my encounter, they are walking around with tools to break locks and doors and cut wires,” one of the e-mails stated. The e-mail further stated that although the Belmont Police have been responding to their distress calls, the police have been unable to make any arrests.
One e-mail dated November 21 stated that the men would enter Cascade on foot, commit their robberies and disappear into the Cascade River. From there, they would use man-made trails running along the Lady Young Road as their escape route.
StACH member: Residents urged to take necessary precaution
A member of StACH, who requested anonymity, said from last December to June of this year, there were several house breakings in Cascade and St Ann’s. There are approximately 3,000 households in Cascade and St Ann’s. The thefts, Sunday Guardian learnt, were more numerous during the Carnival and Christmas seasons. While most of the victims were relieved of personal items, several homes lost television sets, laptops, iPads, microwaves and other valuable belongings.
“The only thing we can do is alert residents to be responsible and to take all necessary precautions when leaving and entering their homes.” While some residents have taken extreme measures by hiring private security, others have invested in guard dogs and installed surveillance cameras, burglar alarms and wrought iron gates in and around their properties. The member confirmed that the witness to the St Ann’s robbery was intimidated by someone who was an associate of the suspect.
“We can only hope that people will be brave enough to come forward to identify the bandits,” the member said. Businessman: Thieves operate independently and in gangs A business owner/operator in Cascade believes that the criminals are associated with gangs from St Francois Valley Road who deal in organised crime. “While one or two of them operate independently, most of them steal in groups and sell the items to a main man or buyer.”
He said from 2012, there were between 15 and 20 robberies in Cascade, half of which were violent in nature. “They are not just coming to steal. They are inflicting harm on residents. Many of the victims were elderly folks who reside in First and Second Avenue in Lower Cascade. They were hog tied and beaten. I remember a senior citizen being struck with the edge of a paint tin on her face which ripped her flesh wide open. My wife too was also attacked after they invaded my home.”
Praising the police for their quick responses, the businessman and other residents suggested an army presence along St Francois Valley and Lady Young roads to nab the robbers after they committed their crimes. “Christmas is approaching and I can’t even have an outdoor party for my clients or staff members. Having a party can put people at risk...a risk I cannot afford to take knowing that they frequently scope out the area for their next target and what they are capable of.”
A December 4 e-mail was forwarded to Marcia Hope, director of corporate communications at the Ministry of National Security, about the robberies in Cascade. Hope said the questions were forwarded to the T&T Police Service for a response. However, up to late yesterday no response was forthcoming.
