Bandits abandon $150,000 loot

A MERE 24 hours after police clashed with protesters during an anti-crime protest march through the streets of Chaguanas, two armed bandits were forced to abandon their loot, a bag reportedly containing $150,000 in jewelry, when they engaged police in a shootout, moments after robbing a jewelry store yesterday. Police sources told Newsday that a massive manhunt was now underway for the bandits. According to police reports, around 2.30 pm, the two armed bandits walked into Rush’s Jewelry Store located off the Chaguanas Main Road (next to Naipaul’s Supermarket) and announced a hold-up.

Clerks in the store were forced to dump over $150,000 in precious metal from the store’s showcases. The bandits then left the store. However, at the same time, a team of officers from the Couva Police Station were on mobile patrol and spotted the gun-toting bandits leaving the jewelry store. After failing to heed the officers’ commands to surrender, the bandits opened fire on the officers, who returned fire. Realising they were out-gunned, the bandits dropped the bag containing the jewelry and beat a hasty retreat. The officers quickly recovered the bag of jewelry and sped off after the bandits, who still managed to escape. Up to late yesterday evening, officers were still at the scene of the jewelry store interviewing clerks and the owner, who expressed gratitude to the officers for securing the stolen jewelry. the Chaguanas CID is investigating the incident.