Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
Southern Division Snr Supt Richard Smith has vowed that officers will catch the car thieves whose chop shop they uncovered in a forested area in New Grant, Princes Town, on Wednesday.
“They know that we know who they are, and we are coming for them,” Smith told reporters at the site where officers recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of car parts and the frames of eight vehicles.
The location was discovered about a quarter mile off North Trace after the police received a tip-off from a member of the public.
The officers returned to the location yesterday to remove the rest of the parts to the St Madeleine Police Station, where they will be sorted and quantified with the assistance of their forensic team and the Port-of-Spain Stolen Vehicle Unit.
Noting that this was part of an overall operation over the last few weeks, Smith said due to the upsurge in vehicle thefts, they had been having several meetings with the Police Commissioner and TTPS executive to come up with strategies to crack down on these crimes.
“In the past few weeks, we have raided garages in the Southern Police Division. Six persons arrested thus far in connection with the vehicles that we have found. With yesterday’s count and today, we have recovered approximately 20 vehicles of different types.”
He said the stolen vehicles included Tiidas, Aquas, Honda City, Fielder Wagons and H100 pickups.
Noting that they found an assortment of parts from doors, batteries and engines at the chop shop, he said the eight vehicle frames were sliced in halves. Smith said they also found plastic used to wrap the parts.
“Apparently, they have orders, so we found some headlights wrapped in them. We found some seats, so parts they wanted to protect they wrapped,” he explained.
Smith believes the criminals had been using that location for about three months.
“What is so amazing is that coming into this dirt road, there are houses around here. I am sure people would have been seeing vehicles traversing in and out of this place. We have so many emergency and hotline numbers that people can call anonymously to give tips.”
He urged members of the public and businesses not to buy illegal parts.
“I say to these buyers, have a heart please. Look at what is happening to hard earned money. You are encouraging this trade. Larceny motor vehicle is a serious crime. (It’s) only when something happens to their relative or someone who they know vehicle then they realise.” Smith said they have received further information and intend to go after other chop shops.
“We are committed to breaking this ring of larceny motor vehicle. We are trying all strategies and doing everything we know to get success. All divisional commanders are also committed to proceeding along the same way.”
While urging people to install security systems in their vehicles, he said, “To those bent on this type of crime, please stop. We are coming after you.”
He said some vehicles and parts recovered over the last few weeks are at the Princes Town and San Fernando Police Stations.
Sgt Barry Bacchus and PC Vaughn Babb were among the officers at the location in New Grant.