$200,000 jewel heist ...murder suspects held

POLICE and Army officials of the Inter Agency Task Force set up by the Ministry of National Security yesterday recovered a large quantity of stolen jewelry, tyres, batteries and cocaine during a raid at Beetham Estate.

As a consequence of the find, three people ages 27, 29 and 53, were held in the exercise which started at 1 pm and ended two hours later after several homes were searched. The exercise was co-ordinated by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Oswyn Allard and Supt Errol Denoon. Police sources said the three men were held in two separate houses, and two of them have been detained in connection with the August 1 shooting death of former National Housing Authority (NHA) worker, Vernon Hospedales, who was found dead at his Twelfth Street, Beetham, home. The other man, police said, has been detained relative to the jewelry heist.  The 52 pieces of gold and silver jewelry, comprising chains, earrings, bracelets and ID bands have been estimated at $200,000. Police said the jewelry were reportedly stolen from jewel shops across the country.

Police are appealing to persons who were recently robbed of jewelry to report to the Besson Street Police Station today between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm to view and possibly identify the items which will be on display at the Criminal Investigations Department. However, police said, people coming to view the items will not be able to easily claim ownership of the jewelry.  Police sources told Newsday the bonafide owners must be able to give proper identification and possibly present receipts before seeing the jewelry items. Police said the recovered tyres and batteries were reportedly stolen from the Tyre Centre Company Limited, Wrightson Road, during a $500,000 breakin on August 1. The jewelry, tyres, batteries and the small quantity of cocaine were found in two separate houses. 

Officers taking part in yesterday’s exercise include Supt Gonzales, Insps Brereton, Ramnarine, Singh, Sgt Boyce and several others. It was only on Wednesday that National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee showered praises on the Inter Agency Task Force, saying they were responsible for making significant inroads, aimed at making Laventille residents feel safe.