A rowdy and disgruntled crowd outside the More Money Pawnshop kept police officers busy on Henry Street, Port-of-Spain this morning.
People were heard shouting and cursing at the police and employees of the pawn shop to let them into the shop so that they could cash in on their deposits.
The shop was robbed over the weekend. An estimated $15 million in cash and jewelry was stolen.
The store opened for business this morning but would only accommodate customers who already conducted business with them and were holders of pawn tickets or receipts. From as early as 6 am, customers waited outside the Henry Street store.
Initially, there was a number system put in place, as the mid-morning heat picked up that system fell apart, impatience set in and people became rowdy and verbally abusive.
Heavily armed officers of the Inter Agency Task Force were there guarding the businessplace and trying to calm people down.
One man was seen being jostled by the police but that quickly subsided when relatives of the man and other bystanders stood up in his defense.
It was decided that customers who have pawned their jewelry will get back 90 per cent of the value, although they would have to repay from that the sum pawned, along with the interest.
More Money Director of Operations Wayne Griffith said staff are expected to continue the exercise for the rest of the week and next week.