Quick thinking by a 60-year old Chaguanas businessman saved him from three bandits Thursday night, two of whom were killed by police shortly after for stealing a Couva woman's car.
Beresford Assoon, known by the police as the Sangre Grande-based leader of a car stealing ring, and his unidentified accomplice, died soon after they were shot by police during a shootout in Macbean, Couva.
The police said they stole cars all over Trinidad.
The shooting occurred while the police were chasing the men who had stolen a Ford Ranger belonging to a Roystonia, Couva family.
Yesterday, residents of Lange Park, Chaguanas, in praise of the police for their good work, were hailing a 60-year old neighbor for his quick thinking, and feet, which saved his from being robbed of his brand new vehicle, and possibly his life, from the same men.
A Central Avenue, Lange Park resident, an eye witness, recalled the incident.
"Me and the neighbor (name withheld) were standing in front my gate talking about 7.30 pm.
"His vehicle he had bought three months ago was parked nearby and he had the keys in his hand.
"A white car pulled up and three men came out and went into the car.
"The big fat one was the same man who police killed and whose picture was on TV.
"Realising what was going on, the neighbor quickly immobilised the engine with a device in the car keys and took off running.
"While running, he pelted the keys in a resident's yard and headed towards The Rise restaurant and bar."
Other sources said the breathless man called the police when he reached The Rise, gulped down a beer to revive and waited.
The police arrived soon after and retrieved the car keys stuck in mud in the resident's yard.
Some two hours after, around 9.40 pm, a Couva family who had gone shopping at Xtra Foods, Grand Bazaar returned to their Couva home.
As the mother pulled their Ford Ranger into the driveway three armed men accosted them and stole their vehicle.
Head of the Central Division Sr Supt Johnny Abraham, who led the chase, said the police cordoned off the Couva and Freeport areas soon after they were alerted.
Police from Chaguanas and San Fernando began to chase the men who crashed the Ford Ranger and escaped into a waiting white Corolla wagon.
But they were blocked by the police in St Mary's, Freeport and turned around heading in the opposite direction unto the Old Southern Main Road.
Blocked again by the police along the Macbean stretch in Couva they abandoned the Corolla and fled into former cane fields at the side of the road.
Cornered by the police, they were called out to surrender but replied with gunshots, Abraham said.
He said the police returned fire and injured two of the men.They were taken to the Couva District Medical Facility where they died soon after.
Thanking Central residents for working with the police in the matter, Abraham repeated his warning to "outside" criminals.
"Stay away from Central. We are going to deal decisively with you if you don't surrender."