Stephon Nicholas
Tobago Correspondent
As investigations continue into the brazen ATM heist in Plymouth, Tobago, residents continue to clamour for the machine to be replaced.
Last Wednesday, five bandits drove a stolen backhoe onto Shelbourne Street and broke into the First Citizens ATM.
The men — one of them dressed as Batman — used the arm of the backhoe to smash into the commercial building and dislodged the vault. However, the backhoe’s arm sustained damage and was unable to lift the vault into the tray of a stolen truck. The men eventually fled the crime scene empty-handed and abandoned the stolen truck at Adventure Trace.
Guardian Media understands that area representative for Plymouth/Black Rock, Kern Alexis, has been bombarded with complaints since First Citizens decided to decommission the ATM.
Residents say their lives and livelihoods have been disrupted with the nearest ATM now a considerable distance away at Pleasant Prospect.
Kellyanne Frank, district office manager, Plymouth/Black Rock, told Guardian Media yesterday, “We are really hoping First Citizens can reconsider. We are really hoping they do consider bringing back that reliable service. People of Plymouth are not happy with it. They have already started coming to the office and asking, ‘What does the area rep plan to do about it?’”
Frank said Alexis intends to write the bank to advocate on their behalf as people’s lives and livelihoods in several areas have been inconvenienced.
“It doesn’t only serve the Plymouth people. We have Black Rock people, we have people coming from our neighbouring Les Coteaux, Golden Lane communities that use that machine. Although there is another in Pleasant Prospect, FCB fast machine in that area was always more convenient.”
Meanwhile, police say the investigation into the incident is at a sensitive stage with several suspects in custody.
No charges have been laid as yet.
