53 cases of rum stolen from police canteen

Officers of the Port-of-Spain CID have launched an investigation into the larceny of 53 cases of rum which were stolen from the police canteen located inside the old refurbished police headquarters.

The canteen is a stone’s throw away from the Port-of-Spain CID and the Central Police Station. Reports revealed that around midday on Friday, civilian employees at the canteen secured the building with two padlocks and left. They returned at 8 am yesterday and discovered the two padlocks cut away and the 53 cases of rum valued $32,000 missing. A report was made to officers of the Port-of-Spain CID and senior officers and fingerprint experts investigated. Officers searched several bars in Port-of-Spain yesterday in a bid to retrieve the stolen rum.

Senior officers told Newsday that they are embarrassed by the larceny since it occurred in the same building where police officers are on duty round the clock. The police canteen in all divisions is run by the police service. The Snr Supt in charge of the Finance branch is in charge of the canteens and a canteen steward in all divisions reports to the Snr Supt Finance. The canteen is normally opened everyday except on Sundays. Money from the sales goes to the police service through the Finance branch. Investigators told Newsday the larceny was an inside job and based on information, arrests are imminent.