By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Five Home Invaders, including a soldier, were arrested by Police on Saturday.
Stolen items were also recovered.
Quick action by officers of the South Western Division led to the arrest of five home invasion suspects and the recovery of several stolen items yesterday.
According to reports, at approximately 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, Victim 1 was in the gallery of his home at Kay Trace, Mendez Village, Siparia, when he was approached by four masked men, one of whom appeared to be armed with a firearm.
The men forced him into his home through the front door, restrained him with a charging cable and a shirt, and instructed him to lie on the floor. They then proceeded to the bedroom area, where they ransacked the room and relieved the victim of a Redmi cellular phone and a quantity of jewellery.
The suspects subsequently fled through the front door and made good their escape in a white Toyota Aqua.
Upon receiving the report, officers from the Siparia Police Station, proceeded to Kay Trace where they met with and interviewed the victim and several other persons.
While at the scene, the officers received information regarding another home invasion, also in Mendez Village, Siparia.
Upon arrival at the second scene, officers met with Victim 2, who reported that at approximately 3:30 p.m, he was sitting in the living room with his mother, Victim 3, when three masked men, one of whom appeared to be armed, entered the house through the front door.
Victim 2 was instructed to lie on the ground and had his hands restrained with a shirt, while Victim 3 was instructed to remain seated.
The suspects then proceeded to the bedroom area, where they ransacked the rooms and took possession of a Scotia Bank card, a box of jewellery, a OnePlus mobile device, a CAT mobile device and $3,000.
The suspects subsequently fled through the front door and entered an awaiting Toyota Aqua bearing the same registration number as the vehicle involved in the previous incident.
The scene was processed, and the surrounding area was canvassed for CCTV footage. While reviewing the footage, officers observed a black Nissan Kicks travelling in convoy with the Toyota Aqua.
A broadcast was immediately sent to the South Western Division Operations Centre, providing descriptions of both vehicles.
Moments later, officers of the Highway Patrol Unit spotted the black Nissan Kicks travelling north in the vicinity of the Gasparillo Overpass. The vehicle was intercepted and searched.
During the search, officers recovered cellular phones and jewellery belonging to the victims.
The driver, a 23-year-old soldier, of Dookie Street, Penal, was arrested.
Further inquiries led to the arrest of four other suspects: a 38-year-old man of Latchoos Road, Penal; an 18-year-old man of Smart Avenue, Penal; another 18-year-old man of Dookie Street, Penal; and a 21-year-old man of Concession Road, Sea Lots, Port of Spain.
Police believe they are stumbled upon the Home Invasion bandits operating in South Trinidad. Investigations are continuing.
