Social media robberies

Tobagonians are being warned about conducting selling or buying items through social media, with Tobago police having received several reports of robberies relating to such transactions to date.

Senior Superintendent Joanne Archie, speaking at last Wednesday’s police town meeting at the Calder Hall community centre, urged proper precautions be taken to avoid being a victim of crime.

“We have had several reports where person put their cell phone up for sale on social media, one person from this same Calder Hall area, and the buyer made arrangements to meet up to do the transaction in Calder Hall. When they met up, the seller was robbed of the phone,” Archie reported.

“Fortunately, we held two of the persons. We believe there are more of them because they were operating in a group. Two persons were arrested and three of the several reports were solved,” she added.

Archie advised members of the public who use social media to sell or buy products to meet in a public area to conduct the transaction safely.

“Please take my advice because some of the reports indicate that both parties agreed to meet at night. Please exercise wisdom," she said.

Archie also reported that for the first five months of 2018, Tobago has recorded a 40 percent decrease in larceny and a 26 percent reduction in serious crimes.

She said this was the first time in three years the island has experienced a reduction in larceny. She said there has been a 40 percent decrease in break-ins, noting that Tobago is among the Divisions with the highest reports of this crime.

“That comes about because of the fact that Tobagonians are not used to homes security and proper surveillance. We need to remember crimes have changed and times have changed so please don’t leave your door open and then travel to Trinidad,” she said.

Archie also said:

“I am hoping and working to ensure that we don’t have any more murders, four is one to many. I am not going to compare it to the other Divisions because it’s no comparison when it comes to when we are speaking about Tobago because one murder will count as ten given the fact that we are a main tourist destination so the world looks at what is happening here.”

Also speaking at the meeting, Assistant Commissioner of Police Garfield Moore described the Calder Hall area as not a difficult community with a large amount of crime.

Marslyn Melville-Jack, Tobago House of Assembly representative for Calder Hall, also spoke at the meeting. commending the police for service to the island and their efforts to reduce the crime levels in Calder Hall and throughout Tobago.

Among concerns voiced by residents were traffic congestion, the free pass being given to PH drivers, and drivers using illegal lighting for night-time driving, as well as schoolchildren being out on the streets at late at 9 pm.

One villager complained about traffic congestion near the Calder Hall community centre on mornings and evenings and in Scarborough.

“We need to enforce the law, some drivers on the taxi stand are saying they have families to take care of but bank customers and other motorists are being affected. These P divers are breaking the law and they are getting priority as they please,” she said.

Patricia Christmas, a mini mart owner operating in Calder Hall, called on the police to deal with parents who leave their children, who she said were as young as eight years, playing on the streets as late as 9pm.

Resident Dexter Sheppard complained of a high prevalence of motorists who were driving at night-time using only park lights.