Armed bandits snatch keys for police bike

Two bandits robbed a Lange Park, Chaguanas woman of her car and then robbed a highway patrol police officer of the keys to his motorcycle, before escaping in the stolen car. Reports revealed that around 6.40 am yesterday, Shelly Marcano of Eastern Avenue, Lange Park, was driving her B-15 car valued at $60,000 out of her garage, when a car with three occupants pulled up. The men ordered Marcano out of her car at gunpoint and two of the bandits drove away. A report was made to the Chaguanas CID and an All Points Bulletin was sent out to all police divisions to be on the lookout for the stolen car. Around 8 am, PC Belilal of Highway Patrol, who was on duty at the Uriah Butler Highway, observed a car speeding along the shoulder of the highway. He gave chase and intercepted the car in the vicinity of Grand Bazaar.

Reports revealed that the constable ordered the two occupants out of the vehicle. While the driver was being searched by the police officer, however, his accomplice pulled out a gun and ordered the constable to stop the search. The gunman threatened to shoot the unarmed police officer if he refused. The two men then took the keys for the motorcycle assigned to the officer and attempted to start it. When they failed to do so, they returned to the stolen car and fled the scene. The officer radioed for assistance and several police officers responded. When the officer gave the police station the licence number of the bandit’s car, it was then he learnt that the bandits were in fact the same ones who had stolen the car from Lange Park only hours ago. The attack on the police officer was witnessed by several motorists, but a search for the bandits proved futile. Officers of the St Joseph CID are investigating.