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Members of a work crew from the T&T Electricity Commission (T&TEC), who stumbled upon an apparent car robbery trap in Chaguaramas, are defending their decision to highlight the issue on social media.
In an interview with television station CNC3 yesterday, supervisor of the crew, Kevin Julien said that they were disappointed over being accused of fabricating the incident, which was initially disregarded by the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) as misleading information.
The CDA has since changed its position and initiated an investigation into the incident. Julien claimed that the discovery was made while he and his colleagues were clearing trees from overhead lines along the Western Main Road near to Crews Inn Marina.
“While our truck was parked there we saw something shining on the road,” Julien said. The two objects
Devices used by bandits to lure unexpected drivers in the Chaguaramas area which is engaging the attention of the CDA. PICTURE MICHAEL RAMSINGHnoticed by the crew consisted of a small metal plate with a sharp protruding object, which was nailed unto the roadway.
He said the objects were placed a short distance away from each other, opposite a bushy area.
“Crime is at its highest. You have to take every precaution and you can not take anything for granted,” Julien said.
He said he and his co-workers believe that the objects were placed there to puncture the tyres of commuters, who would be robbed when they stopped.
“It could happen to any of us and the average person would not have two spare tyres in their vehicle,” he said.
Julien said he and his colleagues did not expect that their warning to the public would be ill-received and would lead to trolling of the company’s social media accounts.
“We thought the video would speak for itself. We did not expect all of this backlash,” he said.
Julien admitted that they did not report the incident to police but claimed that they tried unsuccessfully to report it to the CDA.
In a release issued shortly after the video clips were aired, the CDA claimed that the claim was investigated and no evidence was found to support it. However, in a release issued yesterday, the CDA sought to assure members of the public that the incident was still being investigated.
The CDA said that its estate police have stepped up patrols in the area as they continue to search for other similar devices.
n Members of the public, who may have information on the objects are asked to contact the CDA’s Estate Police at 634-1010 or 707-2965 or visit their office at Williams Bay or the Carenage Police Station.