Penal cops discover stolen cars ‘scrapyard’ — 3 men held

Penal police believe they have discovered one of the “scrap-yards” used for stripping stolen cars in the southland after they caught three men removing parts from a car at Union Village, Claxton Bay, on Tuesday.

The Stolen Vehicle Squad was contacted and two other vehicles, also believed to have been stolen were found. According to police reports, around noon, Michael Paul, 36, of Gonzales Street, Siparia, parked a rented white B-13 Sentra, along Bobsingh Street, Penal and went away. When he returned around 2.30 pm, he discovered the car missing. Paul contacted the owner, Ray Ramlal, who in turn reported the theft to the Penal CID. A party of officers including Cpl Monsegue, PCS Badree, Haynes, Bahadoor, Martin and Joseph went out on enquiries after they received information that the car was spotted at Union Village, Claxton Bay. Upon their arrival, the report stated the officers observed three men under a house stripping a car fitting the description of the stolen vehicle.

Investigators said the men, ages 38, 18 and 19 of Union Village, were arrested after the engine and chassis numbers corresponded with that of the stolen vehicle. The policemen contacted the Stolen Vehicle Squad in Port-of-Spain after they became suspicious of several other vehicles parked under the house. On their arrival there, officers of the Stolen Vehicle Squad impounded two vehicles pending inquiries to determine whether they too were stolen.  Investigations are continuing.