T&T burglars using sledgehammers

(Trinidad Express) Sledgehammers are being used by bandits to break through concrete walls to gain access to business places in the downtown city centre, the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) has said.

This recent trend has been reported to the police as rooftop burglaries in downtown Port of Spain have increased, DOMA said in a statement yesterday.

“While many building owners, business operators and tenants are keenly aware of this persistent threat, we are constrained by the nature of these recent attacks to again caution business operators to not leave valuables or cash on their premises,” DOMA added.

“In the cases now being reported, where the burglars failed to gain access by cutting through the rooftop we have been advised that they then proceeded to use sledgehammers to attempt to break through concrete walls at the side of the premises.”

“Such activity indicates the freeness with which burglars are moving around with heavy tools and how much time they have to carry out their operations and place occupants and owners at greater risk,” the group added.

DOMA has said it is in communication with the Police Service and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to have the situation resolved as quickly as possible.

“It is therefore incumbent on us to remind all concerned that where such lengthy time is available, it is possible to defeat even the strongest burglary protective measures. The use of monitored alarm systems and video monitoring is strongly advised,” DOMA stated.