Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne shocked many viewers this week when he aired disturbing footage of a father and his three-year-old daughter being robbed at gunpoint by bandits as they were about to enter their home. The incident took place at St Vincent Street, Tunapuna, on October 22. Alleyne got footage from the attempted robbery, cleaned it up and aired it.
The footage showed that shortly after entering their yard, the father and child were approached by a gunman. The frightened father appeared to be trying to talk his way out, but the gunman called an accomplice who was apparently standing guard outside the gate. A desperate father then ran out the yard when the bandits seemed to be distracted, leaving his daughter behind. The bandits then ran out behind him but he was able to escape them. His daughter soon picked up her things and went seeking her father.
Alleyne was able to get clear images of the bandits from he footage and told them he will leave no stone unturned in tracking them down. “The hunt is on, turn yourself in,” Alleyne told the suspects on air.
Alleyne also aired footage of a woman and her ten-year-old son being ambushed and robbed by a bandit at Tumpuna Road, Arima, October 10. The two had just returned to their car after coming out a restaurant around 3.40 pm when, after the woman got into the front seat, the bandit rushed her son as he was entering the back of the car, held him down, then grabbed several items and ran off.
Alleyne was able to recover and clean up the footage from the security camera and is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspect is asked to contact the Crime Watch hotlines. In another breaking story this week, Alleyne and his Crime Watch team visited the scene where Anil Jaikaran was murdered.
The 38-year-old victim, who lived in Pleasantville, was shot dead by bandits on October 24 around 10.30 pm, as he was driving his Nissan Almera in Battoo Lands, Marabella. His sister-in-law and brother were also shot and are still in hospital. Police are investigating the incident. Anyone with information on this matter is kindly asked to contact the Crime Watch hotlines.
Alleyne also voiced his concern about the increase vehicle theft in the wake of a case he is following, in which a man’s car was stolen outside Tru Valu Supermarket in Trincity Mall five minutes after he parked, entered the supermarket and returned to his car. The incident took place in broad daylight on October 25.
When Alleyne visited the site and interviewed the victim he noticed three cameras in clear view and the security guards just a few feet away. The victim complained that he had not received any answers from Trincity Mall management, the security or the police. The man said mall officials told him they would call him once they get an answer. Alleyne advised the man to go back to the police to follow up his report and to keep him posted.
Unsolved mysteries
The suspect who shot and killed Deshona Sobers, 27, and Trevaughn Sobers, 31, and left two of her other family members injured on October 23 remains on the run. The suspect, in an exclusive interview with Alleyne days after the shooting, had indicated that he would eventually give himself up. He said at that time that he would only surrender to Alleyne, as he is the only man he trusts and will call. However, he is yet to do so.
Investigations are continuing. Meanwhile, a decomposed body discovered by passersby near Unit Trust, Chaguanas, off the Uriah Butler Highway, has still not yet been identified. The Chaguanas Homicide and Crime Scene Investigators were quickly on the scene and began investigations. Investigations are continuing.