By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Friday, October 2 2009

SHORTLY after being arrested by police for robbing Republic Bank’s Pt Fortin branch yesterday morning, the youthful bandit told officers that he stole the money “to do a course” (pay for studies).

The 21-year-old man of Pt D’or, La Brea is expected to be charged with robbery and is expected to appear before a magistrate today. Meanwhile, the search continued last night for two men.

According to a police report, at about 9 am, shortly after the bank was opened for business, the man entered the bank off Techier Main Road and calmly jumped over the counter and grabbed money from a cash register.

Customers who believed the bandit was hiding a gun in his clothing, ran out of the bank. The bandit, who was unarmed, ran out of the bank and headed towards a blue Honda Civic where two men sat waiting.

As he started to throw money into the car, the occupants panicked on seeing several persons looking at them and sped off, leaving the bandit to fend for himself. He quickly ran along the road. A report was immediately made to the Pt Fortin Police Station.

Swift work by ASP Celestine Phillip, Inspector Deonarine Basdeo, Sgt Louis Granger, Cpls Maharaj and Sookraj and PCs Williams, Ramlal, Singh, Lewis and Gunness, led to the arrest of the suspect at Frisco Junction.

Most of the money stolen from the bank was retrieved by police.

Point Fortin police as well as officers from the South-Western Division Task Force continued the search last night for the bandit’s two accomplices. Following the incident, the bank was closed for the day and should reopen today.

Past president of the Point Fortin Chamber of Industry and Commerce Raymond Aaron commended the police, on behalf of the business community, for the speedy arrest of the man.

“This has come on the heels of a very successful meeting between police and the business community on Wednesday where both parties, pledged greater cooperation and support with each other. ASP Phillip and the other police officers work really hard,” Aaron said.

Up to late yesterday the suspect remained in police custody. He is expected to be charged today for the robbery.