Senior Reporter
Members of the T&T Police Service (TTPS) now believe they have dismantled a criminal gang linked to approximately 24 reports of home invasions over a six-week period in Central Trinidad, following an exercise which resulted in the deaths of four of its members over the weekend.
Members of the “Tall Boots Crew” had several Central communities under siege before their activities came to a dramatic halt following a police exercise in Cunupia on Saturday morning.
Police said the gang, named informally by Cunupia residents due to their use of tall gardening boots during their assaults on homes, was reportedly linked to home invasions in Cunupia, Chaguanas, Freeport and as far north as Las Lomas, beginning in late March.
Police said eight bandits confronted a 70-year-old farmer at his home off Esmeralda Road, Cunupia, at around 3.30 am, stealing $1,120 in cash before fleeing.
A report was made and officers from the Central Division, the Home Invasion Team (HIT) and soldiers from the Regiment responded, chasing the men before eventually intercepting them near Ramnarine Trace. A gun battle ensued and three suspects were killed, while two others were arrested and two others escaped.
However, a series of police dragnets led to the death of another suspect shortly after midday. Four pistols were seized by police following the incident.
According to a TTPS media release yesterday, three of the dead suspects were identified as Mikhail Giuseppe, of Water Hole, Cocorite; Davion Giuseppe, 30, of Lee Trace, North Cunupia and Kevin “Frog Man” John, 35, also of Cunupia.
The fourth suspect remained unidentified up to press time.
In an advisory issued through the TTPS Corporate Communications Unit, ACP Richard Smith, who leads the Criminal Division and the Home Invasion Team (HIT), yesterday warned young people against being part of home invasion gang networks.
“There is no reward in criminality, the life of crime inevitably leads to negative consequences, loss of freedom, loss of opportunities and in many instances, loss of life. We will not allow a small group of individuals to disrupt the peace and security of law-abiding citizens,” Smith said.
Smith also implored the public to partner with the police by reporting any suspicious activity.
Meanwhile, one officer who spoke on condition of anonymity with Guardian Media said their enquiries began when a similar group of bandits were identified and dismantled in the Couva Division. However, attention gradually shifted to the Central Division’s Area North, which includes Cunupia and other areas, earlier this year.
“We noticed it happened in area north, then we saw the modus (operandi) changed, so we recognised this was a different team. We observed it over a period of time and based on the description, we realised the behaviour was consistent with a single clique of persons,” the officer said.
The officer noted that they suspect there are more members of the crew who were not on the scene at Saturday’s home invasion and they are being sought by police.
The source added that despite this, police were still on heightened alert to prevent any continued flare-ups of home invasions in and around the community.
“We recognise that when we arrest a few suspects, we see others rising up, so we aren’t taking anything for granted. We’re not relaxed and rock back, we cannot rest, we’re vigilant at all times.”
Responding to concerns from some farmers on Ramnarine Trace that the “Tall Boots Crew” was one of two separate cliques committing robberies and home invasions in the community, the officer said that while this could not be confirmed, the two suspects in custody could provide further insight on the crew’s workings.
The source—without identifying which of the dead suspects—said one of the men killed by police was previously charged for breaking and entering offences, while the two surviving bandits in custody were also “on the radar” of police before Saturday’s incident.
Another officer, who also asked not to be named, said the swift response of the police in identifying and confronting the suspects was part of a renewed, “sharpened” operational approach aimed at responding to aggressive threats.
Guardian Media visited Charles Street, off Esmeralda Road, Cunupia, yesterday and spoke with a resident who identified himself as a close family friend of Kevin John, one of the suspects killed by police.
“Kevi and them did what they did. It was wrong, yes, but the fact remains they (the police) could have arrested him, which they had the opportunity to do without killing him unlawfully,” the man said.
The man, who was cautious to speak further on the issue, said he and other relatives were not convinced that the official information put forward by police was accurate, as he questioned whether John shot at police first. He said John was last seen liming with relatives at the family’s home sometime on Friday night. He told them that he was leaving to get beers and promised to return, but never did.
According to the Police Complaints Authority, there have been 12 fatal police-involved shootings as of May 4, with 16 people killed.
