Suspect in FCB $50,000 bank heist held

Police officers investigating the daring bank robbery at the Couva branch of First Citizens Bank arrested a 19-year-old man on Tuesday night. The suspect was arrested at his Marabella home by Ag Sgt Corbette and will be placed on an identification parade for the robbery. Police have since secured warrants for the arrest of two other suspects. Police sources revealed that they know who they are looking for and arrests are imminent. Officials of the bank said yesterday that based on an audit carried out on Tuesday afternoon, the bandits may have escaped with close to $50,000. They added that based on information received, the police were able to get workable prints from the crime scene, and the surveillance camera at the bank captured the entire robbery.

The tape from the camera was handed over to the police for viewing. Police investigators returned to the bank yesterday and interviewed several eyewitnesses to the robbery. Three tellers who were robbed by the gunmen were treated for shock and were given counselling. Investigators confirmed yesterday that the suspects are career criminals and one was recently released from prison. The bank heist occurred around 1 pm on Tuesday, east of the Couva Police Station. Three men, wearing orange jump suits and matching hats, entered the bank and pretended to be employees from the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate. They jumped over the counters at the bank and held up three tellers at gunpoint. The bandits escaped in a waiting car parked along Grant Street, Couva. Yesterday, operations at the bank resumed but Newsday learned that the security arrangements at the bank are to be beefed up.