By NALINEE SEELAL Wednesday, February 10 2010

POLICE OFFICERS investigating the theft of a steel safe from the home of retired star West Indies batsman Brian Lara, raided a house in El Socorro yesterday and arrested six Guyanese men, a Jamaican woman and recovered a computer, a cricket bat and cricket pads belonging to Lara.

Police believe with the arrest of the seven, they are inching closer to making a breakthrough into the theft of the safe. According to reports, at about 4 am yesterday, officers led by Insps Sahadeo Singh, Alleyne and Edwards, under the supervision of Snr Supt Glen Hackett, went to a house at Farouk Lane in El Socorro where they executed a search warrant and detained the six Guyanese men and a 35-year-old Jamaican woman.

Police reportedly found the computer, bat and pads belonging to Brian Lara. Sources revealed that the seven persons detained gave a statement that they purchased the items from someone who is a Trinidadian.

However, they also gave useful information regarding Lara’s stolen safe. The seven were last night being quizzed at Port-of-Spain CID and efforts were being made yesterday by the investigator to get Lara to visit the police station to identify the items, before charges could be laid against the seven persons detained.

Last week Tuesday, Lara discovered the safe missing. In this safe, he told police, were $1 million, jewelry, the honourary Order of Australia medallion and a quantity of VVIP tickets for the Beyonce “I Am” concert.

Police have also searched the homes of several persons who have access to Lara’s home, in a bid to retrieve the safe.