Police grab three men in robbery act

THREE men were arrested and charged for arms and ammunition and robbery with aggravation after their robbery stint turned sour when police officers stormed into popular southern restaurant and lounge — Jenny’s Wok, San Fernando, during the wee hours of yesterday morning. According to police reports, around 12.15 am while PCs Harripersad and Maharaj of the Mon Repos Police Station were investigating a minor accident along Cipero Road, San Fernando, in the vicinity of Jenny’s Wok, they were alerted to a robbery in progress by the restaurant’s security personnel, attached to Amalgamated Security Co Ltd.

The officers called for back-up and arriving on the scene within minutes were police officers attached to Highway Patrol South, led by Ag Insp Sampath and supported by PCs Williams, Sookhai, Mohammed, Seepaul and other officers of the E999 and members of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment. The report states that upon arrival the officers along with the army personnel stormed into the restaurant and saw three men pointing firearms at patrons, who were forced to lie face down on the floor. Seeing that they were outnumbered, the suspects — two 27-year-old men from La Romaine and the other from Barataria, 28, reportedly threw their weapons down and surrendered to the officers’ orders.

The police report stated that two firearms, a Lucinda pistol and a Rossi revolver were recovered along with eight live rounds of ammunition and one spent round — four 9mm ammo and five 0.38mm special, four live and one spent. A sum of US$123 in cash, reportedly stolen from the cashier along with $237 cash, stolen from patrons, a Nokia cell phone, valued $500 and an undisclosed amount of jewelry items were also recovered. The men were subsequently arrested and taken to the Mon Repos Police Station where they were slapped with charges of possession of arms and ammunition and three counts of robbery with aggravation. The suspects are expected to appear before a San Fernando magistrate on Wednesday. PC Maharaj of the Mon Repos Police Station is continuing investigations.