Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
A routine trip for bread ended up being a life-threatening ordeal for a businessman who “emptied the clip” on two bandits during a robbery in front of a bakery in South Oropouche on Thursday.
One of the bandits returned fire as they made a hasty retreat, but the businessman was unharmed.
They escaped with $1,200, the key to the businessman’s Ford Raptor (worth $10,000) and hops bread.
Requesting anonymity out of concern for his safety, the businessman lamented that this was not his first encounter with armed bandits. He said this latest incident has only strengthened his resolve to migrate due to the high crime rate in the country.
Police said shortly after 4 pm the businessman exited Deo’s Homestyle Bakery along Southern Main Road in Aripero Village after purchasing two quarts of hops.
It was then he saw a man walking towards him as he headed to his vehicle. Then, he saw the second suspect with a gun running towards him. He demanded the key to his van.
“He was grabbing at a bunch of keys that I had on my waist and I was trying to deflect him from going that way because I had my firearm right on my side,” the businessman explained.
The businessman then took the key from his pants pocket and handed it to the bandits.
The businessman said while pointing the gun at him, one of the bandits demanded his money.
He said he had his cash in a money clip, but he took off the clip, hoping when he threw the money at him, it would scatter and distract the bandit.
“The money didn’t fly too far, but while he was picking up the money, he was still watching me and aiming the gun at me. When he picked up the money he picked up my two quart of bread too and he put all of that in the van.”
Still fearful for his life, he said he slowly walked backwards to the bakery and then opened fire on the bandits inside his van.
“The one who was inside the vehicle I shot at him, through the glass and he crawled out through the next side, the left side and he ran away.”
He said the other bandit fired several shots at him, one of which struck the glass door of the business place. The businessman said the bandit could not move the van because the vehicle had rigid security features.
The businessman called for more protection for business places and owners.
“I think the authorities are aware of where these individuals are coming from and I am not sure what is the reason why they cannot apprehend or get rid of them. Some years ago there were certain hotspots in Trinidad now there is no longer a hot spot, the entire country is hot. There’s nowhere you can consider safe, not even in your own home. Home invasions are prevalent throughout. It doesn’t matter if you are in a big mansion or a little wooden house, you are a target,” he said.
The businessman said he had already started the paperwork to migrate because of crime.
“Very soon Trinidad wouldn’t have the level of businesses to keep the economy turning once this continues happening,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, police have obtained CCTV footage of the incident. Officers of the Oropouche Police Station are investigating.