Alexander warns young black men

MINISTER of Homeland Security Roger Alexander yesterday sent a message to young black males involved in crime, following the police killing of four men of African descent.'To the young black men-life does not revolve around crime and criminality. We must not be seen as a threat to humanity. We can do better than that,' he said.The four men were suspects in a series of home invasions.The minister said young black males need to stop becoming statistics and instead build a foundation that brings pride to their families and country.

Between Wednesday and Friday, there were at least three reported home invasions in Longdenville and two similar incidents in Cunupia, 'I want to commend the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner Ms Suzette Martin, ACP Mr Smith and Lt Dugan for a properly coordinated exercise this morning (yesterday) that resulted in some persons being captured and others meeting their demise,' he said.

 He also praised the Home Invasion Team operating in Central Trinidad. 'I told them to bring in the home invaders using the full brunt of the law, so we can identify them-whether at the mortuary, the Forensic Science Centre, or through an identification parade,' he said.Alexander said greater focus must be placed on law-abiding citizens who are being preyed upon.'What about the rights of the victims of these crimes? I understand an elderly woman was beaten this morning (Saturday). What can we do to restore some level of normalcy for her? How do we address that kind of trauma?

Cops kill 4 in home invasion

...two suspects at large, two in custody

Two suspects remained at large last night after police killed four of their alleged accomplices following a brazen, early-morning home invasion in Central Trinidad yesterday.Two others are in police custody.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) sta­ted via a media release that the incident began unfol­ding around 3.30 a.m. when a 70-year-old farmer from Cunupia was jolted awake by a loud noise at his home.

Police said the elderly man was confronted by a group of masked men wearing gloves, one of whom was armed with a gun and announced a robbery. The assailants reportedly tied up the farmer before escaping with $1,120 in cash and a cellphone.“Based on the trend of the home invasions and the modus of the persons committing the home invasions, we have identified the trends and have identified the increase,” Bhagwandeen said, adding, “based on that we modified and increased our strategies”.

He explained that based on reports from the past, the police learnt that the gang usually moved in groups of five, “all masked and wearing gloves, and on Wednesday night...there were two home invasions that took place within close proximity of one another”.In one of the latest incidents reported on Friday, a 44-year-old woman of Raghunanan Road was terrorised by three masked men.Asked if the suspected assailants killed yesterday were known to police in the Central Division, the Snr Supt confirmed that they were.