$3.5 million robbery at First Citizens

Burglars using a blow torch cut a hole on the eastern side of the Montrose branch of First Citizens between Saturday night and early yesterday then cut open a vault and escaped with over $3.5 million.

The robbery was only discovered at 9 am yesterday when bank officials received a call that there was a gaping hole at the eastern side of the bank.

When they visited the bank officials saw the hole and on checking found that one of the vaults were cut open and the cash missing. Officers of the Central Division were alerted as well as acting Police Commissioner Harold Phillip.

A team of officers under the supervision of Ag Snr Supt Ajith Persad, head of Port-of-Spain CID, is investigating.

Up to press time, fingerprint experts as well as officers of the Cyber Crime Unit were at the bank continuing investigations. It remained unclear whether any security officer was on duty when the break in took place.

The stolen money represents deposits from businesses and other business transactions carried out on Friday last.

Bank officials who were at the scene told Newsday they are hoping for a breakthrough in this investigation.

Officials say they believe the people who robbed the bank had information on the location of the vault and which vault to target.

Yesterday, ACP (Crime) Irwin Hackshaw told Newsday he remains confident the crime would be solved and added that the police will be relentless in their efforts to recover the money. He said that within recent times the Police Service led by himself and Ag Snr Supt Persad have made a series of breakthroughs including the recent robbery at the D’Abadie branch of PriceSmart, two kidnappings and other serious offences under the supervision of acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams and Deputy Commissioner Harold Phillip.