Unmarked police car stolen

ANGRY senior police officers from Northern Division have reportedly launched a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the theft of a specially-modified vehicle used by an undercover Anti-crime police unit based in the Northern Division. Senior police sources told Newsday, a San Juan couple was arrested hours after the theft that occurred on Easter Monday and the couple was facing charges of larceny. However, investigators have raised several questions.

Why was an unmarked police vehicle not sent to either the Vehicle Maintenance Company of Trinidad and Tobago (VMCOTT) which is the state-owned company set up to repair and service all government vehicles? Why didn’t the Police Motor Pool or a certified, registered mechanic, authorised by the Police Motor Pool, undertake the repairs? Police officers are said to be particularly incensed at the fact that the modified vehicle could have been examined by a number of persons (including criminals) after it was stolen and before it was recovered. According to sources, the vehicle — a silver Toyota Royal Saloon — was sent to a “mechanic” in North Trinidad for unspecified repairs. Newsday understands car parts were sourced and sent to this mechanic.

However, it was only after the theft, senior police officers learned that this mechanic did not own or operate a garage and the undercover car had been parked outside the home of the mechanic, for over a month. According to sources, around 2.30 pm on Easter Monday, the mechanic was in the car test driving it, when a woman called out to him. He left the car at the side of the road and spoke to the woman. Shortly after, the woman ran to the car, jumped into the driver’s seat and sped off. The mechanic made a report to the police who immediately issued a country-wide all-points -bulletin (APB) and advised that as a matter of priority, all officers be on the alert for the stolen undercover vehicle.

At 6.30 pm on Easter Monday, police officers on patrol along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway spotted the vehicle pulling into the Piarco gas station and quickly intercepted it and arrested a 23-year-old woman who was driving the vehicle. In the car with her was a 33-year-old man. They were arrested and taken into police custody where they were interrogated. Police sources told Newsday late yesterday evening that the two were charged with larceny of a police vehicle and would appear before an Arima magistrate tomorrow. The undercover car remains impounded at the La Horquetta Police Station. Sources told Newsday that because the indentity of the vehicle was revealed it would most likely be put out of commission. Investigations are continuing.