In Brief
- Eight men aged between 19 and 39 have been arrested over the robbery of a 56-year-old woman in the car park of Adam’s Bagels in Maraval on Tuesday.
- Police said the victim was beaten and robbed of a handbag containing $22,000, an iPhone 12 and three bank cards.
- Four men were arrested in a Honda City in Petit Valley, while the suspected getaway car was found abandoned on the North Coast Road.
- Adam’s Bagels has promised increased security throughout the Christmas season.
By Alicia Chamely
Eight men have been arrested in connection with the violent robbery of a 56-year-old woman in the car park of a popular Maraval eatery on Tuesday.
The arrests were confirmed on Wednesday by Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Public Information Officer, acting Superintendent Owie Russell, at the TTPS’s weekly media briefing at the TTPS Administration Building in Port of Spain.
Russell acknowledged that the viral CCTV footage of the attack had left many people feeling “disturbed,” and confirmed that the eight men, aged between 19 and 39, were arrested in connection with the brutal attack and robbery.
He said that at around 3.10pm on Tuesday the victim withdrew a large sum of money from a nearby bank. She then went to Adam’s Bagels on Saddle Road, where she parked her white Kia Sportage in the car park and went inside.
Russell said the victim returned to her vehicle at about 3.27pm, when she was approached by three men of African descent who got out of a silver Nissan Tida parked directly beside her.
The suspects dealt the victim several blows to the body and head before snatching her black handbag, which contained $22,000 in cash, an iPhone 12 and three bank cards, he said.
The men fled in their vehicle, heading south on Saddle Road. Video footage showed the victim struggling to stand before collapsing after her attackers escaped.
A report was made to St Clair Police Station, and officers launched an operation.
Acting on intelligence, officers intercepted a black Honda City, registration number PDY 4230, on Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley. All four occupants were arrested and are assisting police with their investigation, Russell said. The investigation has since led to a total of eight arrests.
Officers also found the vehicle suspected of being used in the robbery abandoned, with its battery removed, on the North Coast Road, opposite Maracas Bay. A handbag and documents identified as belonging to the victim were found inside, and the vehicle was seized for further investigation, Russell said.
Adam’s responds
In a social media post on Tuesday evening, the management of Adam’s Bagels assured customers that steps were being taken to increase security at its premises and that the matter was being treated with the utmost seriousness.
“This is the first incident of this nature at Adam’s, and we will do everything necessary to prevent any recurrence in the future. We are conducting a thorough review of the circumstances and are taking immediate steps to strengthen safety. Security will be increased immediately and throughout the Christmas season, with the security station remaining attended at all times.
“We understand that our customer was followed and encourage everyone to remain aware of their surroundings and to report any concerns promptly. The safety and well-being of our customers, staff and neighbours are extremely important to us, and we are committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment.”
Management confirmed that assistance was immediately given to the victim and expressed sympathy for the physical and emotional impact of the attack on her and on those who witnessed it.
