Two men who reportedly tried to steal a car were later arrested with not even the clothes on their back.
The pair of alleged thieves, hoping to escape police, trekked almost a mile into the San Francique marshes, but were eventually discovered lying nude in the mud.
Gabre Mahabir, 18, of Sou Sou Lands, Penal and Ancil Felix, 24, of Dookie Street, Penal were expected to appear before a Siparia magistrate today after they were identified by the victim, Saeed Mohammed yesterday.
According to police, Mohammed, 34, of Timital Trace, San Francique, was approached by both suspects on Wednesday morning, after he had placed a classified ad for his silver Nissan Almera in a newspaper.
Police said Mahabir and Felix asked Mohammed to take a test drive, but as they neared Maria David Drive along the San Francique Road, one pulled out a gun and said it was a robbery. Mohammed tried to resist, but he was severely beaten with the gun butt and thrown out of the car, police said. Mohammed was taken to the Siparia District Health Facility where he was treated for wounds to his head and body, and discharged.
San Francique Road residents called Penal police, who responded with air support from the Viper 1 helicopter. Officers found the car abandoned at the Tulsa Trace picnic site with footprints leading into the river.
Police walked almost a mile up the river where they found the men hiding in the swampy area near the bank. The suspects were taken to the Penal Police Station where a trace of their criminal record showed that they were previously arrested for narcotic and larceny motor vehicle.