‘Liming’ cops catch burglar red-handed

A MONTH-LONG spate of burglaries in the Siparia district ended yesterday when a “sting” operation, involving police who pretended to be limers, led to the arrest of a 29-year-old man who was caught red-handed leaving the Clico building with a quantity of stolen items.

The special exercise which was initiated with the specific goal of  catching the burglar, who caused headaches for numerous businessmen and residents in the Syne Village and Grell Street areas of Siparia, was coordinated by Snr Supt Paulimos Alphonso. Yesterday, a grateful Razia Ahmed, manageress of Clico’s Siparia branch, was high in praise for the policemen who captured the burglar. “Thanks to the efforts of the policemen, in particular PCS Ramdhan and Ramjass, who at the time were patrolling the area, the burglar was arrested,” Ahmed said.

According to police reports, at about 12.30 am, a team of officers, including PCS Jones, Ramjass and Ramdhan, were posing as “limers” on High Street, Siparia, when they saw a man smash a window of the Colonial Life Insurance Company building with a piece of iron. Half-an-hour later, the suspect was grabbed by the policemen as he was exiting the building with two large bags, in which the officers found a quantity of electronic items including lights, CD players, a video player and groceries including bread, butter and jam. The suspect, of Murray Street, Siparia was taken to the Siparia CID where he was questioned. He is expected to be charged with several counts of house-breaking and larceny and office-breaking and larceny. Investigations are continuing.