BANDITS GRAB 12 GUNS FROM SECURITY FIRMBy Alexander Bruzual Monday, October 26 2009
AT LEAST 12 guns are now missing following a robbery yesterday afternoon at the Mi5 Security Compound on Alfredo Street, Woodbrook.
The weapons include 11 9mm pistols, one shotgun, and an unconfirmed number of .357 revolvers. Initial police reports indicated there were three revolvers missing, however information reaching Newsday at press time, revealed only one revolver was stolen. All the weapons, were reported as being fully loaded with live rounds of ammunition.
Police report at about 3.15 pm, two men approached the security building, where a woman security officer was on duty at the time. The men, one dressed in Mi5 operational wear and the other in partial police uniform, announced they were there to drop off a package for the company.
Through security cameras placed outside the building, the female officer recognised the individual dressed in the Mi5 wear as a former employee and as such she allowed them inside the building.
Police said that upon reaching the counter where the officer worked, the men placed a gun to her head and announced a hold-up. Shortly afterwards the woman was struck across the face with the butt of the gun, and her hands and feet were bound with duct tape. The men then proceeded to remove the weapons from a steel box which was located below a counter.
The men then fled and shortly afterwards the guard was able to free herself and she contacted the police.
Officers from the Inter Agency Task Force were the first to arrive, and were soon joined by other officers from the Woodbrook Police, Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau, and the Central Intelligence Unit.
Traffic flow along Alfredo Street was restricted, and residents in the area were shocked when they learnt about the robbery.
One resident, who only gave his name as Michael described the incident as further proof that the country was now “living in the wild wild west.”
“Nobody is telling us why we can’t go up the street. The police just have their vehicles parked there blocking everything. But if it really have several guns out on the roads now, what does this mean for the country? People are already dying day after day, what now? Hour after hour?” Michael asked.
Other residents expressed similar feelings about the situation and called on the police to take “whatever steps were necessary” to recover the weapons. Police set up road blocks as far as Chaguanas, yesterday.
Police said they were determined to capture the perpetrators since the revolvers which were stolen were of the most powerful models in the world.
Assistant Commissioner of Police for Crime John Trabajo refused to confirm details saying he did not want to reveal any facts which may prejudice the actions taken by the police. However he assured Newsday that there were officers “on the field looking into the matter.”
