Cops seize 10 stolen vehicles

The Port of Spain CID along with colleagues from the Stolen Vehicles Squad under Port of Spain CID head, acting Snr Supt Ajith Persad, raided a Kelly Village garage on Wednesday and seized ten stolen vehicles. They included four Hyundai two-tonne trucks, three Kia trucks, a B11 and a B13 car and another truck.

No one was detained, but police searched the premises at Hydraulic Trace, Kelly Village, where they found a crane and equipment used to cut the vehicles. One of the trucks was stolen from Arima on Tuesday. During the four-hour operation at the garage, the Stolen Vehicles Squad also discovered the car thieves had tried to illegally remove engine and chassis numbers.

Some of the vehicles were also discovered cut in pieces, so police believe the operation was intended to steal and sell parts.

The recovered vehicles were taken to the Stolen Vehicle Squad compound and victims of the robberies were contacted yesterday to help identify the vehicles.

Yesterday, a police source said there was a lucrative business in the sale of parts for trucks and B11 and B13 cars. He also said parts for Kia trucks were very expensive but were sold by the car thieves at reduced prices.

Other officers taking part in the exercise included Insp Joseph, WP Sgt Narine and Sgt Swamber.

The same team also went to East Port of Spain yesterday, accompanied by soldiers, and raided HDC apartments believed to be illegally occupied. During the exercise, which started at 4 am and ended at 10 am, the 150 police and soldiers searched several homes, apartments and high-rise buildings.Twenty-two people were detained in connection with shootings, robberies and outstanding warrants.

Four people who were found illegally occupying HDC apartments were also detained and were expected to be charged with several offences. The exercise was supervised by ACP Irwin Hackshaw and acting ACP Radcliffe Boxhill and led by Persad. Other officers included Supt Hercules, acting Supt Mohammed, ASP Parriman and others.