Armed suspects held with stolen cash, jewelry

Quick response by officers of the Maloney Police Station yesterday resulted in the arrest of two robbery suspects, the seizure of a sawed off shotgun, several cartridges, and money and jewelry which had earlier been stolen from the proprietress of a paint shop. Reports are that around 2.30 pm, Shaliza Mohammed was at Shell Paint Shop, Piarco Old Road, when she was confronted by two men, one armed with a sawed off shotgun. Mohammed was ordered to hand over a quantity of cash and jewelry and the bandits fled the scene on foot. A report was made to the Emergency-999 and officers of the Maloney Police Post led by Sgt Godson Andrews and including Cpl Gray and others responded.

The two suspects were held in bushes at Maloney allegedly counting the cash. Officers also seized a sawed off shotgun and cartridges. The two suspects were taken to the Maloney Police Post and later handed over to officers of the Arima Police Station. The victim was called to the Arima Police Station where she identified the two suspects, ages 19 and 23. Newsday learned that the two suspects will be placed on identification parades for similar offences in the Northern Division. Yesterday, ACP Crime Oswyn Allard was high in praise of the quick response by the police officers which led to the arrests, the recovery of the stolen items and the seizure of the sawed off shotgun. The gun will be sent to the Forensic Science Centre for tests to be carried out by a ballistic expert to determine if the weapon had been used in any recent shootings and murders. Cpl Gray of the Maloney Police Post is investigating.