With a Mayaro family still shaken after armed criminals in police and army uniforms violently robbed them at their home earlier this week, Mayaro MP Rushton Paray said yesterday that there is an urgent need for additional resources to ensure safety and security in south-eastern communities.
The 37-year-old suspect held for the robbery, a Regiment private attached to the Cumuto base who was assigned to the Mayaro Police Station for joint patrol duty, remained in custody yesterday and is awaiting an interview from the investigating team led by ASP Jankee, Insp Mahabir and Sgt Mohammed.
The private was on temporary duty at the Mayaro station. His arrest came after one of his alleged victims went to the station to give a statement and saw him there in his army uniform.
Mayaro police do not believe the bandits in police tactical wear were officers but criminals who got their hands on uniforms.
The family refused to speak to the media about their ordeal yesterday, saying they had been notified by the police not to divulge any information on what transpired to the media.
In a media statement yesterday, however, Paray said an uptick in home invasions, robberies and assaults indicate a worrying escalation in criminal activities in Mayaro and nearby communities.
He said regions once known for their tranquillity are now experiencing increased threats from armed criminals, posing risks to all residents, including vulnerable groups like the elderly, women and children. He said there had been a noticeable and alarming increase in the crime rate over the past few months.
He said he believes more officers, vehicles and CCTV cameras will aid in more effective patrolling and quicker responses. He also wants police posts along the eastern coast and specific districts.
“The laid-back and hospitable nature of the community members, traditionally a point of pride, may inadvertently make these areas more susceptible to criminal elements. This rise in criminal activities is rapidly transforming Mayaro into a region of concern, impacting both its residents and reputation as a welcoming destination for tourists, both domestic and international,” Paray said.
He thanked the Mayaro police for their ongoing efforts and called on authorities to intensify law enforcement initiatives to protect the people, business owners and visitors.
While Paray sees an uptick in crime, statistics from the Crime and Problem Analysis unit of the T&T Police Service show there were 108 serious crimes, like murders, shootings, woundings, sexual offences and robberies, in the Mayaro district up to Tuesday. It is a reduction from the 149 reported for the same period last year. There is an 81 per cent detection rate for serious crime in Mayaro and 60 per cent for the Eastern Division. There was also a reduction in property crimes like robberies, break-ins and burglaries.
Snr Supt Ryan Khan yesterday said Mayaro faces challenges like every other community with a growing population and changing dynamics. Khan said the police are also adapting and improving anti-crime measures.
“Yes, there are challenges in every community at this time. We have dedicated police officers in Mayaro who want to see the district safer and have a better quality for all citizens of Mayaro and, by extension, the Eastern Division. We work closely with communities,” Khan said.
A police report stated that the family, who owns a hardware, was at home in Mafeking Village at 4.55 pm on Monday when a black SUV with blue swivel lights pulled up.
Six men, one in plain clothes, two in police tactical wear and three in army uniforms, got out of the SUV. Two had firearms. The men approached the house and told the 47-year-old homeowner that they were investigating a report of a house fire and had come for surveillance footage. The homeowner allowed the men inside, where his wife, 44, and son, 23, were. However, the men then announced a robbery and bound the family’s hands and feet before robbing them of gold jewellery, cash, mobile phones and their Digital Video Recorder. The men left in the SUV.
As the family was at the Mayaro station to give a statement, one of the victims saw the private. He told the investigator, who then questioned and detained the soldier.
Investigators are still searching for the others involved.
Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Director David West yesterday said there will be an investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers. West said the PCA will interview civilians and obtain copies of police reports.
“The PCA has initiated an investigation into the articles in the Trinidad Guardian and Newsday concerning the soldier identified as reported for joint patrols at the Mayaro Police Station,” West said.
