Garcia out to make Glencoe crime-free

Businessman and community activist Rocky Garcia said he is now driven to ensure his community and surrounding areas remain crime-free. An ordeal resulted in his wife and daughter having to seek professional help after they were terrorised by an armed bandit during a robbery at their home two weeks ago,

Garcia, the vice-chairman of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA), has warned would-be perpetrators: "Think twice, we are coming for you and wherever you are, we will dig you out." Speaking a day after the capture of an escaped convict by police, Garcia  said: "It is amazing to know the kind of love we have in T&T and if we give that up for a very few people, we are stupid. We really don't know how sweet a paradise we have here and the love we share."

A 27-year-old man from Waterhole, Cocorite, is suspected of breaking into Garcia’s Glencoe home on October 16 and tying up his wife and daughter before robbing them of cash and jewelry. Acting on information, Western Division Police nabbed the suspect along with two other men, at the Cocorite Fishing Depot around 10.30 am on Wednesday. The men were reportedly about to board a pirogue to Venezuela.

The arrest came after 14 hours of surveillance. Garcia praised Snr Supt David and Insp Dan for their perseverance. The suspect is believed to be responsible for several break-ins in the Westmoorings, Glencoe and Diego Martin districts since June. Garcia, who twice ran unsuccessfully as a Congress of the People candidate for the Diego Martin West constituency, said he was overwhelmed by the level of support from the community and police during the hunt for the suspect.

He told the T&T Guardian it was a community-conscious collaboration that had led to the suspect's capture. Unwilling to venture any more information about Wednesday’s sting operation, Garcia said he would be meeting with key stakeholders to help boost resources for the protective services.

He said his perspective on crime-fighting had changed. Senior police officials confirmed several people had participated in the identification parades at the Four Roads Police Station yesterday. However, up to yesterday no charges had been laid.