Veteran teen burglar jailed for 60 years

A MAN described by police as a career burglar, whose tool of trade was a sledgehammer, was yesterday sentenced to a total of 60 years imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to 12 counts of shop-breaking and larceny. Fortunately for veteran burglar Curn Rawlins, 19, he will only serve five years behind bars since Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan, who presided over the Princes Town Magistrates’ First Court, imposed the sentences on a concurrent basis. Rawlins was sentenced to five years on each of the 12 counts, after court prosecutor Cpl Kazim Ali, spent quite sometime relating the facts in each of the 12 charges to the court.

Charges were laid by PCs Roger Reid, Hugh Elbourne, Wahid Ali, Darwin Ghouralal, Sookhoo and Farrel. Rawlins’ arrest came after extensive police investigations led by Southern Division CID boss — Supt Rajindranath Maharaj — which was initiated after a series of break-ins in the southern city and environs. Rawlins told the court he did not want to “waste the court’s time” and asked the magistrate to accept his guilty pleas to all the charges. The 12 break-ins were committed between March 11 and May 3, the day the defendant was arrested.

In total, the earnings from Rawlins’ ill-gotten enterprise amounted to over $20,000 in cash and nearly $10,000 in alcoholic beverages, accessories and snacks. He pleaded guilty to stealing $8,475 in chains, handbags, watches and stereo parts from a store at a shopping mall in San Fernando on April 10. He also stole $8,660 in cash from a Diamondtex branch on High Street, San Fernando. Rawlins also struck at Shoetique Store and stole $2,280 in cash on April 10. On two occasions, the Empire Bar on Penitence Street in San Fernando fell victim to Rawlins’ criminal exploits.

In a police statement, Rawlins related his modus operandi in committing the break-ins. “I used a sledgehammer and cutlass to open the stores. I also used these items to open the bottom of a safe in one of the stores.” Asked to explain the reason for his criminal ways, Rawlins said his father put him out of their home at age 16 and he was living, “in a fowl coop.” He said he was beaten and chopped by an ex-convict when he had to defend himself on the streets. “While there may have been some maltreatment in your youth, there must be some cut off point. Why on earth did you put yourself in this position... a serial burglar at age 19!” the magistrate exclaimed. In the end, the magistrate imposed the 60-year sentence on Rawlins. Rambachan later complimended PCs Reid, Elbourne, Ghouralal, Ali, Sookhoo and Farrell for solving the series of break-ins.