Freelance Contributor
Police are yet to identify a suspected bandit who fell into a drain and drowned after robbing a closed car dealership in Mc Bean, Couva.
Police said the man was wearing a purple T-shirt and a pair of denim trousers, and was found floating in a wide drain that runs at the end of Ramoudit Drive, which is behind the compound of CASA Enterprises on the Southern Main Road.
Police said the alarm system went off on the compound after 2 am yesterday and private security and the police responded. Three men were observed jumping over the back fence when the responding teams arrived. Two of the suspects managed to escape but the third was found dead in the drain.
Several items were stolen from the site.
When Guardian Media visited the site yesterday, a contractor was installing razor wire on the fence to replace rusted barbed wire that was there.
The dealership has been closed for the last three years following the death of owner Navin Deonarine. There are approximately 40 vehicles on the compound and bandits have apparently been raiding the site for months.
In this latest incident, the thieves made off with batteries from several Toyota Aquas, valued at over $10,000 each and parts from Toyota Fielder Hybrid station wagons. The facility is monitored by cameras.
Personnel on the site said the men walked with a blanket in a garbage bag as if they had long-term plans to set up a camp on the compound and steal as many parts as possible.
The scene was visited by WPC Ramsawak, PC Basdeo and PC Mitchell of the Couva Police and officers from Homicide South. Investigations are continuing.