Security guard charged with $653,000 robbery

NALINEE SEELAL

A 31-year-old security guard of Crown Trace, Enterprise, Chaguanas, has been charged with breaking and entering of a Western Union safe and larceny of TT $653,000, malicious damage to a safe and wasteful employment of police time.

The three charges were laid by Sgt Anthony Williams following directions on Saturday to do so by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Roger Gaspard.

This follows a pre-dawn break-in last Monday on the Chacon Street, Port-of-Spain side of Excellent Stores, Excellent City Centre mall.

Around 1.30 am on August 21, two men gained access to the compound by entering the building through the eastern side of the roof.

The guard who was on duty at the time later reported to police that he was held up by the two men who then cut open a safe belonging to Western Union and removed $653,000 in cash.

According to police reports, the guard claimed that he was then abducted and dropped off somewhere in central Trinidad.

Later that same day, he filed a report with officers of the PoS CID, following which two men from Laventille were detained.

A team of police officers, led by Supt Ajith Persad and including Sgt Anthony Williams and PCs Fernando, Hoyte, Persad, carried out extensive inquiries. The security guard was detained during this time.

Several people were interviewed and a file on the robbery was submitted to the DPP, who on Saturday, gave directions for three charges to be laid against the security guard, who is expected to appear before a Port-of-Spain Magistrate today.