Sentinel van geh shootup (Orange Grove, CRH)

[SmokeyGTi]

more like the driver - not a bullet graze him self?

[mitsu_chick941]

more like the driver - not a bullet graze him self?

Same thing i say, all those shots fired and not one scratch?

Is it because he jumped out the vehicle before they started shooting and if so, how did he know what was going down?


My theory, driver in on it....plan well executed.

[pioneer]

beetham residents - hard working, honest people.

[New_SPECIES]

History of Sentinel Security Services Ltd... Reported in the news a while back:

$.2m stolen from security vehicle
...4 guards detained

By Akile Simon
Story Created: Dec 6, 2011 at 12:57 AM

FOUR security guards employed with Sentinel Security Services have been detained by police in connection with an incident in which they were held up and robbed of thousands of dollars over the weekend.

The guards, aged 21, 37, 53, and 46, who hail from Trincity, Laventille, San Juan and East Dry River, Port of Spain, were picked up by officers from the Port of Spain CID hours after the daylight incident.

This latest incident is the sixth reported armed robbery involving Sentinel Security Services officers while on their way to deposit large sums of money to various banks within the past six months.
Police said around 12.30 p.m. on Sunday, a senior security officer, who was armed with a pistol, was driving a panel van in company of three other officers in the vicinity of Victoria Square on Duke Street, when two men approached the vehicle.

A police report at the Port of Spain CID revealed that the suspects then fired shots which caused the driver of the van to make a hasty retreat into the company's nearby head office at Duke Street.
The driver of the vehicle discharged 12 rounds from his service pistol at the men but they weren't hit. As the vehicle entered the compound, two men approached and relieved the guard of his pistol and stole six bags containing $200,000 from inside the vehicle and escaped.

Contacted yesterday, an official at the company who identified himself as Bert Clarke said they had no comment to make on the incident.
Police are expected to detain more security guards in connection with previous robberies which involve deposing cash.

Up to late yesterday the guards were being questioned by officers of the CID which include Snr Supt Wayne Boyd, ASP Ajith Persad, Insp Harvey Jawahir, Cpl Andre Lopez and PCs Nobel Smith and David Ellies.

The other reported incidents
involving Sentinel Security Services are as follows:
*In May, two Sentinel guards were detained by police after they claimed they were held up and robbed by two men, one armed with a sledgehammer, of their firearms and $300,000 at Oudai Trace, Aranguez.

*The following month, three guards from the same company were detained by police in connection with the disappearance of three loaded firearms- two pistols and a revolver- in the custody of the officers who were occupants of a panel van, when they were discovered missing in Port of Spain. One of the officers was later charged in connection with the theft.

*In August, two security guards reported to police that they were held up and robbed of several money bags containing more than $100,000 while proceeding along Naparima Mayaro Road in a security truck. They claimed a white Nissan Almera overtook their vehicle and blocked the road way. The officers were robbed of the cash and a loaded Smith and Wesson firearm by two bandits.
*In October, a security guard reported to police that she was relieved of her service revolver and a bag containing thousands of dollars after she stopped off at Republic Bank in San Juan to deposit money.

*On November 8, a security officer with the company was shot in the leg after a gunman fired a shot at panel van during a reported robbery near the company's office. During that incident, in excess of $100,000 was stolen but the bandits left behind a bag containing $600,000 in the vehicle.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/__2 ... 74598.html

But before we can jump to the conclusion that the driver was definitely a part of the heist, one must also take into consideration this...

If you look at the angle of the van – after it was spun from the Ranger ”hit”...

You’ll see that the only person in view of the bandits as they approached the panel van was the one in the passenger seat - Bert Clarke.

Hence the reason why the driver was able to escape.




Basic observation of the Crime Scene can show this.
So just because the driver was able to escape, doesn't mean that it can be confirmed that he was part of the robbery.

Like I was saying before... It being an "inside job" was definitely a possibility...
But wouldn't they have chosen a much easier “Course of Action” that would not have left them so vulnerable in the middle of the highway.

For example.. the Panel Van could have been hit with a little less force then the driver could have pulled to the shoulder (if he was part of the plan) and the bandits simply walk up to them, with guns pointing, and simply take the loot...

As opposed to a “Wild Wild West” – Middle of the Highway – Accident / Shootout – Where Police that could have been nearby could catch up with them...

Many things to consider!

[TriniAutoMart]

http://guardian.co.tt/news/2013-12-09/c ... -17m-heist


Cops hold ‘gang leader’ in Sentinel $17m heist

Police have arrested a Beetham Gardens man who they claim is a gang leader in connection with the daring robbery two weeks ago which claimed the life of Sentinel security officer Bert Clarke. According to police reports, shortly after 7 pm on Saturday, officers of the Inter Agency Task Force, Guard and Emergency Branch and officers of the Port of Spain Division went to the area and held the suspect. Officers said they quelled what could have been a fiery protest after the man was arrested when residents attempted to block roads.

The three bandits made off with $17 million in local currency and US$150,000 during the daring highway heist in Trincity, East Trinidad, on November 27.


The courier service was headed east on a routine trip to the Piarco Airport around 4.30 am, along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, near the Trincity Industrial Estate, when it was rammed from behind by a black Ford Ranger which was loaded with bags of cement in the rear seat. New information released by police now suggests that three shooters emerged and began firing at the panel van.

Clarke, 59, of Bregon Park, D’Abadie, was shot dead at the scene while the driver managed to escape after running and hiding in some bushes across the highway.


Police recovered shotgun cartridges, 9 mm casings and 5.56 shells, usually used inhigh-powered assault rifles, scattered across the three lanes of the eastbound lane of the highway. After grabbing the loot, the robbers escaped in a white SUV which was later found abandoned near Millenium Park, Trincity, and another getaway car, a Nissan Almera, was found at a yet to be released location. All three vehicles were reported stolen.

[UML]

so the driver was lucky to hide in the bushes while not to get lick dong by oncoming vehicles while crossing the higway while bullets flying?

[clone101]

so the driver was lucky to hide in the bushes while not to get lick dong by oncoming vehicles while crossing the higway while bullets flying?

If you read good it was 4:30 am and when bullets flying left ,right & center getting bounced down is the least of you worries .........

[desifemlove]

even at half hour am, lucky other drivers weren't hit by the bullets. especially as it seems like it was an auto firearm.

[SmokeyGTi]

All I can say is that no one puts that much effort into a robbery unless they know the value of the payload.. Again that info had to come from within..

[clone101]

The 31-year-old gang leader held in connection with the murder of security officer Bert Clarke and multi-million-dollar robbery involving Sentinel Security Services has been released from custody. The suspect, of Beetham Gardens, was arrested by the Inter-Agency Task Force near his home on Saturday morning. He was detained at the Belmont Police Station and questioned by detectives of the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit, who released him around 3.20 pm on Monday.

Police sources said the suspect was questioned about the robbery, which took place on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway in Macoya, as well gang activity in east Port-of-Spain. Source said investigators did not have sufficient evidence and did not gain enough information while interrogating the suspect to charge him for the robbery or any other criminal offence. No other suspect had been arrested up to late yesterday.

[antlind]

When yuh read these stories one has to wonder about the level of intelligence in our Police Service. Like the just arrest this person on a hunch without evidence. Them fellas better look at Law and Order to understand how a police force should operate.

[eliteauto]

the Police should have issued a statement that they released him pending further inquiry and that several new leads had been revealed during interrogation. Then let the chips fall where they may

[antlind]

I am willing to bet that our Police Service will be unable to solve this crime. Then they will have to bring in some high priced expert to help them. Anyway, we cannot expect much from our Police Service when most of them only have school leaving certificates. That is the problem here in Trinidad. If you cannot get work anywhere else join the Police Service. I don't want to sound like some elitist or someone suffering from a superiority complex, but this TT Police Service could use a double dose of intelligence.

[eliteauto]

I am willing to bet that our Police Service will be unable to solve this crime. Then they will have to bring in some high priced expert to help them. Anyway, we cannot expect much from our Police Service when most of them only have school leaving certificates. That is the problem here in Trinidad. If you cannot get work anywhere else join the Police Service. I don't want to sound like some elitist or someone suffering from a superiority complex, but this TT Police Service could use a double dose of intelligence.

The amt of chit you post there I'd expect you to be at least a Superintendent by your logic

[spirited721]

What makes his opinion chit? Is his opinion and one shared by a lot of people. Although, it's 5 o levels now for entry I think. Despite the entry requirements, a lot of officers do go on to earn various qualifications that include many letters of the alphabet not to mention in house training that the regular Joe may not be exposed to. However, Plenty police is just delinquents get ah wok and on ranking ting. That being said, it have plenty good highly qualified police. Much respect to d popo no disrespect.

[New_SPECIES]

All I can say is that no one puts that much effort into a robbery unless they know the value of the payload.. Again that info had to come from within..

Anyone can assume the money riding in the truck by just scoping out its route.

For example... the Red Bedford truck (in POS) makes pick ups from TSTT, T&TEC, Excellent Stores, or any other Syrian Business - in a consecutive order before reaching the bank to deposit... just by that alone... you can already have an idea of the amount of money in the van...

And these vans always have the same routine at the same time everyday!

Rocket Science?

[Rainman]

the Police should have issued a statement that they released him pending further inquiry and that several new leads had been revealed during interrogation. Then let the chips fall where they may

Heights!!

[javishm]

intelligence....police?? whats that

[pugboy]

one year today since this $17m robbery,

are investigations still ongoing and at a sensitive stage ?

I recall 3hours in traffic behind kay donna/caroni

[shake d livin wake d dead]

awaits Mark Bassant to have some sort ah review on this

[Richard Marshall]

Today is 27/11.
Nothing will come out if this, just like many events before it.
There's always dust under the carpet...

[kaylex]

lol..... Nah we put up a cash bond for the crime. witnesses will come foward. PACK OF ASSS..
nothign will be swept under the carpet. The ttps just not good enough to crack any case..
#noconfidence

[zoom rader]

lol..... Nah we put up a cash bond for the crime. witnesses will come foward. PACK OF ASSS..
nothign will be swept under the carpet. The ttps just not good enough to crack any case..
#noconfidence

No No when PNM was in power the PNM police worked hard in arresting alleged UNC Voter padders.
In the end UNC voters padders cases were dismissed and real voter padders who were all PNM were charged and convicted . Police do solve cases.

[j.o.e]

lol..... Nah we put up a cash bond for the crime. witnesses will come foward. PACK OF ASSS..
nothign will be swept under the carpet. The ttps just not good enough to crack any case..
#noconfidence

No No when PNM was in power the PNM police worked hard in arresting alleged UNC Voter padders.
In the end UNC voters padders cases were dismissed and real voter padders who were all PNM were charged and convicted . Police do solve cases.

ZR turning everything into a PNM vs UNC convo is getting really old eh

[zoom rader]

lol..... Nah we put up a cash bond for the crime. witnesses will come foward. PACK OF ASSS..
nothign will be swept under the carpet. The ttps just not good enough to crack any case..
#noconfidence

No No when PNM was in power the PNM police worked hard in arresting alleged UNC Voter padders.
In the end UNC voters padders cases were dismissed and real voter padders who were all PNM were charged and convicted . Police do solve cases.

ZR turning everything into a PNM vs UNC convo is getting really old eh

Police did their work under PNM hoss.
Remember when they rough up Panday at his home and arrested him when he was with diplomats .
They do as they are told.

[hustla_ambition101]

Interesting that none of the highway cams does never capture anything

[pugboy]

$17m is a lot of money to hide though and surely the members cant be so patient to not spend any without other people asking where they get it from.

[SMc]

^^casino?

[~Vēġó~]

wayz one year passed already....


Fighting the autoprune...