Schoolgirl held for $2.5 million jewelry heist

A 15-year-old schoolgirl, who is the mother of an eight-month-old baby, was among four persons arrested in connection with the $2.5 million jewelry store robbery at Zina’s Jewelry, Price Plaza, Chaguanas, on Thursday morning.

The Belmont schoolgirl, wanted for two other jewelry store robberies, was placed on identification parades yesterday where she was pointed out. She was later interviewed by Sgt Dennis Housend and Ag Sgt Ajith Persad. Reports revealed that around 11.30 am on Thursday, five men including a woman staged the daring daylight robbery at the jewel store. The five held up security guard Nicholas Punette, of Advance Security Company. Punette was robbed of his wallet containing $30 and his Smith and Wesson revolver as well as 12 rounds of ammunition. The bandits then ordered employees of the jewelry store to lie on the ground and robbed the store of jewelry valued $2.5 million.

Officers of the Chaguanas Police Station were alerted and a party of officers led by Inspector Raphael, Sgt Housend and Ag Sgt Persad went to the scene. An All Points Bulletin was sent out to all police divisions to be on the lookout for the getaway vehicle. Reports revealed that officers of the joint police army patrols led by ACP Crime Oswyn Allard and the Chaguanas CID received a tip-off that the getaway vehicle was seen in Mt Hope. Officers went to Mt Hope Road, where they saw the car with four of the five suspects. A chase ensued and the suspects abandoned the vehicle.

Three suspects — ages 26, 24 and 22 and the 15-year-old schoolgirl — were arrested. The stolen jewelry as well as a Taurus revolver, ammunition and a stolen car were recovered. All the items were handed over to officers of the Chaguanas CID. The owners of Zina’s Jewelry, Zina and Omardath Ram, were contacted and they went to the Chaguanas Police Station where they identified the stolen jewelry. Investigators told Newsday that with the arrest of the four suspects they may be able to solve two other jewelry store robberies in Central and another at Valpark. Senior officers praised the quick response of the police which led to the arrest of the four and the recovery of the stolen jewelry.