PoS vendor: This is a Rowley Christmas

Snatching of jewellery, cell phones and wallets is on the increase in downtown Port of Spain and the city police are urging shoppers and visitors to leave their valuables at home.

Superintendent Glen Charles yesterday told Newsday they continue to get reports of snatching and pickpocketing.

He is calling on shoppers “to partner with the police to ensure their safety” by not walking with large sums of money or displaying their money when buying items, particularly from vendors on the streets. Charles said the police had to advise a several people yesterday to take off their gold chains. He also urged them to be aware of their surroundings, particularly in ATM booths.

At about noon yesterday, the police, he said, removed 29 vendors on Frederick Street and surrounding areas. The vendors returned soon after.

The police also conducted 23 stop and searches and detained five suspects in relation to pickpocketing.

Told that as soon as the police move from the area, the vendors would be back again on the streets, Charles said, they were not seizing the vendors’ goods but just moving and advising them. “We understand the financial constraints and the need for them to ply their trade,” he said. “However, they cannot block the pavement and traffic on the streets.”

Shortly after the vendors were removed from Frederick Street, one vendor identifying himself as St Rose-Augustine told Newsday that for vendors, “This is not a Merry Christmas. This is a Rowley Christmas because we vendors out here and we are not getting sales.”

He called on the Opposition MPs to meet with them and represent their cause. “We voted for those in power, but they are not listening to us,” he said.