Security expert says 11 victims of car-stealing every day

A SECURITY expert yesterday revealed that every day in this country, at least 11 people fall victim to car thieves. Derek Smith, CEO of Emergency Roadside Services Limited (ERSL) and Security Escort Services Limited  (SESL) is calling on people to be more alert and streetwise in light of the recent spiralling spate of crimes in the country. He made the call while addressing a security symposium at Cara Suites Hotel, Claxton Bay organised by the South Chamber of Industry and Commerce. He said 11 people lose their cars daily, with Sentra B13, B14 and  Honda Civic CRV models being the favoured brands of car thieves. He ventured to say that, “police and licensing authorities know where stripping yards are” but “turn a blind eye.” The East/West Corridor, Laventille and Arima were identified as “main areas” for the stripping of stolen vehicles. In the case of kidnappings, Smith said: “We are still a long way behind, but kidnapping is now an industry because it makes money.” He said predictable behavioural patterns and socialising spots made people easy targets for car-jacking and kidnapping and practices like car pooling and travelling in groups, tend to reduce the risk of these forms of crime.

Smith said 34 percent of kidnappings occur between Thursday and Friday — nearer the weekend when the victim’s “laid back” attitude is exploited. He added that 67 percent of kidnappings occur at night and 27 percent of the victims are children. In fact, the kidnap victim holding the record for longest time in custody is six-year-old Marc Prescott, who was kidnapped 30 days ago. So far this year, nine children have been kidnapped. For last year, $10 million in ransom was paid, Smith said. He added that this figure could be more since some families transacted private payments with the abductors. So far this year, the country had seen a reported 83 kidnappings, with many more going unreported. Out of the 83,  17 were for ransom with two ending in murders. Forty-six percent of victims are kidnapped while driving, 21 percent are women, 18 percent escape their abductors, while 27 percent are rescued and the average length of a kidnapping is eight days. Smith noted that as a result of the kidnapping trend, investors are being deterred and businessmen are forced to leave the country out of fear. At the same time, he said, the business and wider community are paying closer attention to their personal safety and taking necessary measures. Smith called on the Attorney General’s off-ice, the Ministry of Finance and the Social Affairs Department to play a wider. more meaningful role in the fight against crime and suggested more air surveillance, roadblocks and an improving of the communication network of the police, as tangible means of fighting crime.