Officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad and the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) are investigating an incident where a ten-year-old girl reportedly witnessed a male relative being kidnapped at her home in Arouca near midnight on Saturday.
According to a police report, a 23-year-old woman of Thomas Trace in Arouca told them that at about 11.59 pm on August 17 her ten-year-old niece of contacted her via WhatsApp crying.
The girl reported that five men came to their home and surrounded the victim in the yard where an altercation occurred. She claimed the men took away the victim into a blue and silver vehicle.
Investigating officers said they have hit a dead-end in the case and described the report as “bizarre.”
Neighbours were cautious to comment when Guardian Media visited the area yesterday. The officers said they were also yet to determine a motive for the kidnapping.
One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said she was unaware of the kidnapping.
She added that she knew the family for over 30 years and said that at any given time there are about ten people at the residence including two small children.
Another neighbour said “I wasn’t around for a while I recently moved back in and seeing about my own self. I don’t mind anybody business I just keep to myself but thinking about it, I did not see anyone there or hear them in the last few days so maybe something did happen that night but I was sound asleep.”
Yesterday, through the gate, which is blocked off with white lattice, there was evidence of smashed glass window and a broken bottle which supported the police report that there may have been a struggle.
Investigating officers are asking members of the public who may have any information that would assist them in their investigations to come forward and contact them at 999, 555, 800 TIPS or 482-GARY.