[UPDATED] Police hold 3 after mid-morning car chase in PoS

A drama that began with a mid-morning car theft in Maraval ended in the Holy Rosary RC church in central Port of Spain, where one of the three car thieves was arrested after disguising himself in a priest’s robes.

He had fled into the church when police intercepted the stolen van on Park Street after chasing it through the capital on the morning of August 15.

Around 9.30 am, three men, one armed with a gun, confronted a family unloading groceries at their home.

The assailants demanded the keys to the family’s grey Nissan Navara, then drove off with some of the groceries still in the tray of the van.

The terrified family called the police and the dispatcher at the command centre told patrolling officers to be on the lookout.

Police spotted the stolen vehicle in Port of Spain as the thieves made their way east along Park Street. Police followed the men in an unmarked car, and at the Henry Street intersection, another group of police pulled in front of the stolen vehicle.

Eyewitnesses reported the men got out of the van and began running in different directions, leaving behind a black bag, a gun and a single slipper.

A Facebook post by the RC Archdiocese of Port of Spain reported that one of the robbers had run into the Holy Rosary Church at the intersection around 10 am, and disguised himself in a priest’s alb (long robe) “while hiding in the sacristy,” the statement said. A sacristy is where the priests prepare for services and keep their vestments and articles of worship.

Police held the robber, and the post said they found cash and other stolen items.

Newsday visited the church later in the day. Its usually open doors were closed and its gates padlocked.

The Archdiocese concluded its post by saying it continues to pray for the crime situation.

“We ask the intercession of Our Lady of the Assumption to pray for us.”

When Newsday arrived around 10.15 am, scores of police and civilians were gathered at the corner. Police blocked traffic from entering Henry Street, between Duke Street and the Park and Henry intersection.

Opposition MP Rudranath Indarsingh, who was in the capital on business, spoke with Newsday mere metres away.

He praised the police for their “timely response” and expressed relief that no innocent bystanders were hurt.