SOURCE: Trinidad Guardian — In the wake of a series of home invasions in the Barrackpore district, a senior police officer has advised residents to deal with criminals “as they see fit” to defend themselves.
Addressing a police town meeting at Vickar’s Country Club in Barrackpore on Thursday, Snr Supt Richard Smith said, “Your home is your castle, and you are entitled to protect yourself against any external person who comes to make trouble for you.
“You have to protect yourself and your family. I would not go on to say how. You use your imagination, deal with it accordingly because they are in your place.”
Richards, who is in charge of the Southern Division, added, “Now if a man on your zaboca tree quite down the road there, and you have a gun, don’t go and shoot him for a zaboca, but if he coming in your house deal with him as you see fit because you have to protect yourself and your family.”
Some victims shared what they went through during home invasions.
Businessman Laltoo Seepersad was moved to tears after he spoke about his ordeal. He told reporters afterwards that the incident occurred “a couple” of years ago, but he is still traumatised.
Addressing officers at the meeting, he said, “Right now, I don’t know what to do if they come again.
How to protect myself, my family? I need some help from you all. All I could do is use a machete or some piece of iron or something. I am really scared.”
Another home invasion victim, Sharda Ramkhelawan, said her family needs counselling and help to rebuild their lives.
Ramkhelawan said she sells produce but has been unable to work because her van was stolen.
“Where do you get some assistance into building back because remember I out of a job and I did not have a vehicle because I lose everything, they scrap out my whole home,” she lamented.
Assuring residents that the police are working, Richards said they had arrested some of the suspects involved in home invasions.
Promising increased patrols in the district, he said, “We have two vehicles attached to the station, but we have had other vehicles deployed in the district recently due to the spate of robberies and home invasions.”
With five police vehicles from the station, the Guard and Emergency Branch, and army patrol, he told residents they also should see an improved response time.
While not encouraging residents to stage fiery protests, Richard said they should “make some noise” for the roads to be repaired.
He said that bad roads also hinder the police response time and damage the police vehicles.
“We could benefit if the road is fixed I not telling you to block the road,” he said.
Smith urged also owners of shipping containers to be vigilant and record the containers’ serial numbers, as there has been a spike in thefts of these containers.
He said three suspects have been arrested and four containers recovered within the last two weeks.
He also advised victims of crime that assistance is available through the Criminal Compensation Board and the Victims and Witness Support Unit.
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